Climate Regulation Provided by Street Trees – Examples from Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract

Street trees are an effective measure for reducing heat stress in high-latitude cities, especially in dense urban areas. Their cooling effect is mainly due to shading, with deciduous trees blocking up to 98% of direct solar radiation in summer and around 50% in winter. This study analyses the influence of street trees on outdoor thermal comfort in Gothenburg, Sweden, using the SOLWEIG 2.2 model to simulate spatial variations of radiation fluxes, mean radiant temperature (Tmrt), and shadow patterns. The results show that the model reliably quantifies the impact of vegetation on urban microclimates and provides useful insights for climate-sensitive urban planning. Findings highlight practical strategies for integrating street trees to improve thermal comfort and mitigate urban heat.