Vegetation Configuration Effects on Microclimate and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations: A Case Study of High-Rise Residential Complexes in Northern China

While urban greenery is known to regulate microclimates and reduce air pollution, its integrated effects remain insufficiently quantified. Through field monitoring and ENVI-met 5.1 modeling of high-rise residential areas in Jinan, the results demonstrate that: (1) vegetation exhibits distinct spatia...

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Main Authors: Lina Yang, Xu Li, Daranee Jareemit, Jiying Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/6/672
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author Lina Yang
Xu Li
Daranee Jareemit
Jiying Liu
author_facet Lina Yang
Xu Li
Daranee Jareemit
Jiying Liu
author_sort Lina Yang
collection DOAJ
description While urban greenery is known to regulate microclimates and reduce air pollution, its integrated effects remain insufficiently quantified. Through field monitoring and ENVI-met 5.1 modeling of high-rise residential areas in Jinan, the results demonstrate that: (1) vegetation exhibits distinct spatial impacts in air-quality impacts, reducing roadside PM<sub>2.5</sub> by 26.63 μg/m<sup>3</sup> while increasing building-adjacent levels by 17.5 μg/m<sup>3</sup>; (2) shrubs outperformed trees in PM<sub>2.5</sub> reduction (up to 65.34%), particularly when planted in inner rows, whereas tree crown morphology and spacing showed negligible effects; (3) densely spaced columnar trees optimize cooling, reducing T<sub>a</sub> by 3–4.8 °C and the physiological equivalent temperature (PET*) by 8–12.8 °C, while planting trees on the outer row and shrubs on the inner row best balanced thermal and air-quality improvements; (4) each 1 m<sup>2</sup>/m<sup>3</sup> leaf area density (LAD) increase yields thermal benefits (ΔT<sub>a</sub> = −1.07 °C, ΔPET* = −1.93 °C) but elevates PM<sub>2.5</sub> by 4.32 μg/m<sup>3</sup>. These findings provide evidence-based vegetation design strategies for sustainable urban planning.
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id doaj-art-ae680ba6e14a44d0b06d6085e35deb03
institution Kabale University
issn 2073-4433
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
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series Atmosphere
spelling doaj-art-ae680ba6e14a44d0b06d6085e35deb032025-08-20T03:26:49ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-06-0116667210.3390/atmos16060672Vegetation Configuration Effects on Microclimate and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations: A Case Study of High-Rise Residential Complexes in Northern ChinaLina Yang0Xu Li1Daranee Jareemit2Jiying Liu3Department of Civil Engineering, BinZhou Polytechnic, Binzhou 256603, ChinaSchool of Thermal Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, ChinaFaculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Pathum Thani 12121, ThailandSchool of Thermal Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan 250101, ChinaWhile urban greenery is known to regulate microclimates and reduce air pollution, its integrated effects remain insufficiently quantified. Through field monitoring and ENVI-met 5.1 modeling of high-rise residential areas in Jinan, the results demonstrate that: (1) vegetation exhibits distinct spatial impacts in air-quality impacts, reducing roadside PM<sub>2.5</sub> by 26.63 μg/m<sup>3</sup> while increasing building-adjacent levels by 17.5 μg/m<sup>3</sup>; (2) shrubs outperformed trees in PM<sub>2.5</sub> reduction (up to 65.34%), particularly when planted in inner rows, whereas tree crown morphology and spacing showed negligible effects; (3) densely spaced columnar trees optimize cooling, reducing T<sub>a</sub> by 3–4.8 °C and the physiological equivalent temperature (PET*) by 8–12.8 °C, while planting trees on the outer row and shrubs on the inner row best balanced thermal and air-quality improvements; (4) each 1 m<sup>2</sup>/m<sup>3</sup> leaf area density (LAD) increase yields thermal benefits (ΔT<sub>a</sub> = −1.07 °C, ΔPET* = −1.93 °C) but elevates PM<sub>2.5</sub> by 4.32 μg/m<sup>3</sup>. These findings provide evidence-based vegetation design strategies for sustainable urban planning.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/6/672outdoor air qualityoutdoor thermal environmentvegetation configurationshigh-rise residential areas
spellingShingle Lina Yang
Xu Li
Daranee Jareemit
Jiying Liu
Vegetation Configuration Effects on Microclimate and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations: A Case Study of High-Rise Residential Complexes in Northern China
Atmosphere
outdoor air quality
outdoor thermal environment
vegetation configurations
high-rise residential areas
title Vegetation Configuration Effects on Microclimate and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations: A Case Study of High-Rise Residential Complexes in Northern China
title_full Vegetation Configuration Effects on Microclimate and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations: A Case Study of High-Rise Residential Complexes in Northern China
title_fullStr Vegetation Configuration Effects on Microclimate and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations: A Case Study of High-Rise Residential Complexes in Northern China
title_full_unstemmed Vegetation Configuration Effects on Microclimate and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations: A Case Study of High-Rise Residential Complexes in Northern China
title_short Vegetation Configuration Effects on Microclimate and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations: A Case Study of High-Rise Residential Complexes in Northern China
title_sort vegetation configuration effects on microclimate and pm sub 2 5 sub concentrations a case study of high rise residential complexes in northern china
topic outdoor air quality
outdoor thermal environment
vegetation configurations
high-rise residential areas
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/6/672
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AT xuli vegetationconfigurationeffectsonmicroclimateandpmsub25subconcentrationsacasestudyofhighriseresidentialcomplexesinnorthernchina
AT daraneejareemit vegetationconfigurationeffectsonmicroclimateandpmsub25subconcentrationsacasestudyofhighriseresidentialcomplexesinnorthernchina
AT jiyingliu vegetationconfigurationeffectsonmicroclimateandpmsub25subconcentrationsacasestudyofhighriseresidentialcomplexesinnorthernchina