Permeability of urban forests to solar radiation: a study of two representative species in low-density urban environments in the Mendoza Metropolitan Area

Abstract

The objective of this article is to generate knowledge to determine the influence of urban forests, public or private, on the solar potential of low-density urban environments in the Mendoza Metropolitan Area (MMA). The urban forest permeability study had been developed for situations typical of Mendoza, with species such as: London plane (Platanus acerifolia) 21,80%, White mulberry (Morus alba) 32,71%, European ash (Fraxinius excelsior) 20,95%, and Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) 2,72% (Cantón, 1994-2000). However, to determine the permeability of forests to solar radiation in low-density urban areas of the MMA, in the first stage it was necessary to collect samples to identify the presence of species untested for permeability, including Box elder (Acer negundo) 9,95% and Umbrella Chinaberry (Melia azadarach fm. umbraculifera) 8,37%. In the second stage, a measurement plan was developed for a yearly cycle, for a group of 8 trees of each selected species. The results obtained indicate a reduction in the solar energy available from 52,88% to 75,93% in winter, and from 85,96% to 98,38% in summer for Box elder y Umbrella Chinaberry respectively. The study has made progress in determining the solar potential in urban environments considering the permeability of two representative tree species in the Mendoza Metropolitan Area.