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Urban Trees Struggle in Drought: How to Save Cities' Natural Air Conditioners
🇷🇸 Serbia /Environment & Climate

Urban Trees Struggle in Drought: How to Save Cities' Natural Air Conditioners

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Urban trees are suffering from severe water shortages during the current drought, impacting their role as natural air conditioners in cities.
  • Trees reduce water loss by closing pores on their leaves, but this also hinders photosynthesis, leading to malnutrition.
  • Young trees (under 11 years old, less than 25cm trunk diameter) are particularly vulnerable and require 10-15 liters of water daily, while mature trees need 200-400 liters weekly.

Cities are facing a critical challenge as urban trees struggle to survive a prolonged drought, jeopardizing their vital function as natural cooling systems. Many trees are exhibiting signs of autumn, with dry, yellowing, or completely bare leaves, a stark indicator of their distress. This wilting is a protective mechanism, as trees close the pores on their leaves to minimize water loss. However, this also halts photosynthesis, preventing trees from absorbing essential nutrients and leading to a state of 'starvation.'

The consequences of this widespread tree stress are significant, especially in urban environments where trees are crucial for mitigating rising temperatures. Mature trees act as large-scale air conditioners, creating shade and cooling the surrounding areas through evapotranspiration. Studies show that the perceived temperature under a tree's canopy can be up to 12 degrees Celsius lower than in direct sunlight. Without healthy trees, cities will become even hotter, exacerbating the effects of climate change.

When we stand under a tree, the subjectively perceived temperature can be even 10 to 12 degrees Celsius lower than next to it.

— Dr. Matthias Bayer, eco-hydrologistDr. Bayer explains the significant cooling effect of trees in urban environments.

Younger trees, particularly those planted within the last eleven years and with trunk diameters less than 25 centimeters, are most at risk. They require consistent watering, with an absolute minimum of 10 to 15 liters per day, ideally provided two to three times a week in larger quantities to allow water to penetrate deeper soil layers. Mature trees, with their extensive root systems and larger canopies, have a much higher water demand, needing between 200 and 400 liters of water each week to survive the arid conditions. However, even established trees in urban settings often struggle to develop deep root systems due to compacted soil and small planting pits, making them more susceptible to drought.

10 to 15 liters per day – that is the absolute minimum for a young tree if we really want to help it.

— Dr. Matthias Bayer, eco-hydrologistDr. Bayer specifies the daily water requirements for young trees during drought conditions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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