In recent decades, Urban Heat Island Effects have become more pronounced
and more widely examined. Despite great technological advances, our current
societies still experience great spatial disparity in urban forest access.
Urban Heat Island Effects are measurable phenomenon that are being experienced
by the world’s most urbanized areas, including increased summer high
temperatures and lower evapotranspiration from having impervious surfaces instead
of vegetation and trees. Tree canopy cover is our natural mitigation tool that
absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis, protects humans from incoming radiation,
and releases cooling moisture into the air. Unfortunately, urban areas
typically have low levels of vegetation. Vulnerable urban communities are
lower-income areas of inner cities with less access to heat protection like air
conditioners. This study uses mean evapotranspiration levels to assess the
variability of urban heat island effects across the state of Tennessee. Results
show that increased developed land surface cover in Tennessee creates
measurable changes in atmospheric evapotranspiration. As a result, the mean
evapotranspiration levels in areas with less tree vegetation are significantly lower than the surrounding forested areas. Central areas
of urban cities in Tennessee had lower mean evapotranspiration recordings than
surrounding areas with less development. This work demonstrates the need for
increased tree canopy coverage.
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