Plane trees were initially chosen for urban environments due to their resilience against pollution and harsh conditions. Recent research reveals they help cool the surroundings during heatwaves by actively pumping water up and allowing it to evaporate from their leaves, contrary to the previous belief that they close their leaf pores in high temperatures. This discovery emphasizes the importance of plane trees in cities like London, particularly as temperatures rise above 30C. Researchers will investigate if other tree species possess similar cooling abilities to enhance urban greening efforts amidst climate change.
Plane trees were originally planted in cities because of their resistance to pollution, disease, compacted soils and the harsh environment, making them ideal for urban settings.
Swiss researchers discovered that plane trees keep their leaf pores open during extreme heat, pumping more water from underground to cool their surroundings through evaporation.
Collection
[
|
...
]