Multi-Physics Analysis of Cooling Effects of Green Spaces: Case Study in Brooklyn, New York

Exposure to elevated temperatures in heavily built-up environments, largely caused by impermeable surfaces, artificial heat exhaust, and reduced green spaces, poses serious challenges to urban sustainability and public health. While urban green spaces are recognized for their potential to mitigate such heat island effects through shading, evapotranspiration, and airflow improvement, existing studies often lack systematic quantification of these cooling effects and fail to contextualize them within specific urban environments. This study investigates the contribution of green spaces to lowering the high heat exposure in urban areas, where a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, was used as the lab to carry out measurements and simulations of the constructed and natural environment. Computational simulations were conducted to replicate the urban landscape, including buildings, streets, and vegetation, and to model the effects of vegetation, particularly evapotranspiration, on temperature. Summer temperature, wind speed, and humidity were simulated at a high spatial resolution, and the results were compared with measured data for verification. This approach contributes to the reliability of the predictions and provides localized insights into the cooling potential of green spaces. By addressing gaps in research in this area, the results of this study area aim to inform planning strategies to support climate-resilient urban development.