Time lapse video of the morning mist over Bukit Batok nature park, Singapore, on 11 January 2024, 8.24 am
Mature trees in forests have greater cooling power and sequester more carbon than young trees in fragmented parks.
One study says " the highest cooling effect distance and cooling effect intensity are for large urban parks with an area of more than 10 ha".
Another study says " large parks with areas of more than 10 ha have the highest average Cooling Effect Distance and Cooling Effect Intensity; that is, a 1-2 degrees Celsius temperature reduction that extends over a 350 m distance from the park boundary."
In comparison, other researchers said that "having plants on the facade of buildings can improve the level of comfort felt outdoors by people within a 4 m range, but this has little or no impact at greater distances."
Which is better: A forest that can cool over 300 metres for free, or planted trees on building facades that cool no more than 4 metres?