Mitigating Urban Heat Islands in Wuhan: The Role of Urban Parks Over the Past Five Years

Abstract

In recent years, the urban heat island effect has emerged as a significant challenge in global urban planning and environmental management. The impact of urban parks, as integral components of urban green space systems, on mitigating the heat island effect has garnered considerable attention. This paper conducts an analysis of the impact of urban parks on the urban heat island effect in Wuhan over the past five years, systematically exploring the mechanisms and effects of urban parks on the heat island effect. The study reveals that with the increase in total area of urban parks, their cooling effect becomes progressively more pronounced. Park area, perimeter, and vegetation coverage are all negatively correlated with surface temperature, exhibiting a trend of increasing influence. The perimeter-area ratio is positively correlated with surface temperature, indicating that parks with more regular shapes demonstrate better cooling effects. Urban parks exhibit better cooling effects within a radius of 100 meters from their perimeters. Currently, the cooling effects and coverage of parks are gradually expanding.