Tree Planting... Not a Magic Solution to Lower Temperatures
Proposals:
- Combining green spaces with reflective materials
- Creating shallow ponds and water basins
- Constructing reflective roofs and roads to reflect a greater amount of sunlight
- Combining shading with reflective coatings
While emphasizing that “temperatures in areas with little to no vegetation cover have risen by 6 degrees Celsius compared to those with vegetation cover,” a scientific study prepared by researchers from the Department of Geography at the College of Social Sciences, Kuwait University, proposed that “heat mitigation policies should move beyond the uniform idea of planting trees everywhere.”
The study, a copy of which was obtained by Al-Rai, noted that “in areas where land surface temperatures exceed 52 degrees Celsius, particularly in some northern and western parts of the country, it may be more effective to combine green spaces with heat-reflective materials, shallow ponds and water basins, and the construction of roofs and roads that reflect more sunlight rather than absorbing it (as well as combining shading with reflective coatings). In thermally suitable areas, interconnected green networks can be enhanced instead of small, isolated vegetation patches.”
The study, which examined “the impact of concrete surfaces within urban neighborhoods on thermal gradients” and was authored by Dr. Shawqi Mansour, Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Yaqout, and Dr. Mishaan Al-Anazi, indicated that “afforestation, despite its importance, is not a magic solution to rising temperatures.” It simultaneously noted that “green spaces reduced the heat impact by approximately 3.2 degrees Celsius in some locations, with mitigation near green corridors reaching 4.2 degrees Celsius.”
The study pointed out that it attempted to “monitor the impact of asphalt, concrete, and green spaces on land surface temperatures within neighborhoods, and propose more precise urban planning for cities better equipped to withstand the scorching summers in Kuwait, so that heat is not merely a number in the weather forecast.”
Continuing, the study, which relied on satellite imagery, stated that “the contrast between a street filled with buildings and asphalt, and a neighborhood surrounded by trees and planted areas, can radically alter the living experience, because the ground itself heats up and retains energy, then re-emits it into its surroundings. This highlights the phenomenon of the ‘surface urban heat island,’ meaning the higher temperature of city surfaces compared to less developed areas.” It added that it attempted to answer the question: “How do buildings, roads, and green spaces contribute to drawing a heat map from one neighborhood to another?”
The study noted that “Kuwait is located in an extremely arid desert climate, with annual rainfall below 120 mm, and air temperatures reach very high levels in summer. However, the ground surface can become hotter than the air itself, particularly over materials that do not absorb water, such as concrete, asphalt, and tiles.” These surfaces, which the study terms “impermeable surfaces,” absorb solar radiation and store its heat. Conversely, plants help mitigate heat through shading and evapotranspiration from their leaves, a natural process that draws some heat away from the surrounding environment.
The study’s results painted a clearly contrasting thermal image over the past year. In June, surface temperatures exceeded 67 degrees Celsius in the northern and western regions, while averaging around 56 degrees in central areas, and dropping to 45 degrees in some northeastern areas such as Dasman. In July, some industrial areas, including Jahra Industrial, reached 70 degrees Celsius, while most southern areas remained around 47 degrees. In August, some northern neighborhoods stayed above 60 degrees, while southern areas recorded significantly lower values.
These figures do not mean that the residents of those areas were exposed to air temperatures equal to them; rather, they describe the heat of the ground surface under direct sunlight. Nevertheless, they serve as a crucial indicator of the intensity of the thermal load borne by streets, buildings, and neighborhoods. The study shows that in Kuwait’s extremely dry conditions, impermeable surfaces can be approximately 10 degrees Celsius hotter than the air.
The maps derived from the study reveal “potential spatial and social disparities.” Some areas, such as Hawalli and Farwaniya, appeared less fortunate in terms of residents’ access to green spaces due to urban sprawl and high population density. In contrast, neighborhoods and areas with dense vegetation cover were found in parts of the north and center. The study alone does not definitively establish the causes of this disparity or its detailed social impacts, but it highlights the need to distribute cooling solutions.
Researchers explain that under extreme heat, plants themselves suffer from thermal and water stress, which weakens the transpiration and evaporation processes that provide their primary cooling capacity. Therefore, tree planting should not be understood as a magic solution that works equally well everywhere and at all times.
