Title: Temperature distribution and environmental impact of Tekirdag Ataturk Forest Nature Park

Authors: Murat Özyavuz; Bayram Cemil Bilgili; Gülşah Elkıran

Addresses: Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture, Namık Kemal University, 59030, Tekirdağ, Turkey ' Faculty of Forestry, Department of Landscape Architecture, Çankırı Karatekin University, 18200, Çankırı, Turkey ' Faculty of Fine Arts, Design and Architecture, Department of Landscape Architecture, Namık Kemal University, 59030, Tekirdağ, Turkey

Abstract: The term heat island describes built up areas that are hotter than nearby rural areas. The annual mean air temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be 1.8-5.4°F (1-3°C) warmer than its surroundings. In the evening, the difference can be as high as 22°F (12°C). Heat islands can affect communities by increasing summertime peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and mortality, and water quality (EPA, 2013). Urban heat islands are one of the most important problems of cities today and are experienced in Turkey similar to other cities in the world due to the spatial increase in urbanisation. It is known that the existence of green spaces has an important role in decreasing the negative effects of urban heat islands. The objective of this study is to determine the cooling effect of the Atatürk Forest Natural Park, which is 26.6 ha located in the city centre. Within this scope, mobile temperature values were taken at 41 points, 250 m apart, within the Atatürk Forest Natural Park and its surroundings. The result of the geostatistical analysis shows a temperature difference of up to 5.5°C between the Atatürk Forest National Park and its surroundings. This difference can be effective over an approximately 400 m radius.

Keywords: open spaces; green space; temperature distribution; environmental impact; Turkey; geostatistics; landscape planning; urban heat islands; cities; urbanisation; cooling effect; parkland; parks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2015.071581

International Journal of Global Warming, 2015 Vol.8 No.1, pp.102 - 113

Received: 24 Dec 2013
Accepted: 22 Mar 2014
Published online: 02 Sep 2015 *

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