Cities can become dangerously hot during extreme heat events. Woodlands, grasslands, lakes, and rivers can create cooler microclimates, offering a potential way to reduce urban heat, according to a new study.
The research focused on Guildford, England, examining six sites with varied green-blue infrastructure (GBI), including woodland, grassland, lakeside, vegetated green wall, pocket park, and riverside. These sites were compared to built-up locations.
Researchers recorded temperatures from June 2023 to August 2025. All six GBI sites were found to be cooler by 1.81-2.49° Celsius (3.26-4.48° Fahrenheit) than their built-up comparison sites. The cooling effect was more pronounced during extreme heat events, with the woodland site being over 6°C (almost 11°F) cooler than the built environment on the hottest days.
Source: Mongabay