Quantifying the Cooling Potential of Urban Tree Species: A Trait-Based Approach Using Envi-Met Simulations and Regression Analysis

Authors

  • Pallavi Sharma

    Department of Art and Design, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Ramkishore Singh

    Department of Sustainable Engineering, TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERISAS), New Delhi 110070, Delhi, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i1.10676
Received: 24 June 2025 | Revised: 15 September 2025 | Accepted: 23 September 2025 | Published Online: 23 January 2026

Abstract

Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects are exacerbated by the expansion of impervious surfaces and loss of vegetation in urban centers, leading to elevated air and surface temperatures and reduced thermal comfort. Urban trees, through shading and evapotranspiration, are among the most effective Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for passive cooling. This study assesses the cooling potential of selected tree species by analyzing their morphological and physiological traits using a combination of ENVI-met microclimate simulations and multiple regression modeling. A total of 15 urban tree species were selected from the literature and analyzed based on their dependency of their cooling efficacy. Later validated in urban setting by Envi-met simulations. Key traits, such as Leaf Area Index (LAI), canopy density, transpiration rate, tree height, rooting depth, and water availability, were analyzed. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to quantify the contribution of each trait to ambient temperature reduction. Results revealed that LAI (R² = 0.76, p < 0.001) and transpiration rate (R² = 0.71, p < 0.001) were the most significant predictors of daytime cooling, while canopy openness and tree height were more strongly correlated with nighttime heat dissipation. High-performing species, such as Ficus benghalensis, Azadirachta indica, and Samanea saman, demonstrated a maximum temperature reduction of 2.5–4.2 °C, especially in compact, low-rise, and mid-rise zones. The study provides a quantitative trait-based framework for tree selection in urban greening initiatives and offers evidence to guide landscape planning and UHI mitigation strategies through scientifically informed plantation design.

Keywords:

Urban Heat Island; Cooling Efficacy of Tree Species; Regression Analysis; Envi-Met Simulations

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How to Cite

Sharma, P., & Singh, R. (2025). Quantifying the Cooling Potential of Urban Tree Species: A Trait-Based Approach Using Envi-Met Simulations and Regression Analysis. Research in Ecology, 8(1), 169–184. https://doi.org/10.30564/re.v8i1.10676

Issue

Vol.8, Iss.1 (February 2026)(in progress)

Article Type

Article

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Copyright © 2025 Pallavi Sharma, Ramkishore Singh

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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