Quantifying the cooling effect and benefits of urban parks: A case study of Hangzhou, China

Urban parks are increasingly recognized as effective nature-based solutions for mitigating urban heat in large cities. Although the cooling effect of parks has been thoroughly assessed, comprehensive studies on their cumulative cooling effects remain relatively sparse. Moreover, the benefits of this cooling effect have not yet been fully explored. To address this gap, we selected 220 parks in Hangzhou City to quantify their cooling effects and reveal driving factors. Additionally, we developed indicators for cooling exposure and carbon-saving potential to investigate the livelihood and ecological benefits arise from park cooling. We find that 84 % of these parks demonstrated a cooling effect, with a park cooling intensity, maximum and cumulative cooling intensity of 0.35 degrees C, 2.35 degrees C and 0.05 degrees C, respectively. Notably, there were distinct variations in cooling exposure across neighborhoods, with 57 % of them being less than 0.06 %. Furthermore, the carbon saving potential of all parks was approximately 1.13 x 104 t. In addition, our findings highlight the importance of park perimeter as a critical factor influencing park cooling effects. Overall, this study provides novel insights into the cooling effects and associated benefits of urban parks, highlighting their critical role in urban planning strategies to combat climate change and enhance urban livability.