Student Research Reports

View Research Report

Urban trees play a key role in carbon storage and surface temperature regulation. This study quantifies and compares carbon storage at two university campuses, Universidad Nacional del Comahue (Argentina) and University of Texas at Tyler (USA), as well as in an urban planted forest, a park, and a native Araucaria Forest. Additionally, it evaluates the relationship between canopy cover and surface temperature and assesses differences between ground-based and satellite-derived tree height measurements. Field data collection included tree height and circumference measurements using the GLOBE Observer App. Biomass and carbon storage were estimated through allometric equations. Surface temperature was measured seasonally, under different canopy cover conditions on sunny and cloudy days, using an infrared thermometer. Satellite data from ICESat-2 and GEDI were compared with ground-based tree height measurements. Results indicate a negative correlation between canopy cover and surface temperature, mainly in spring and summer, when tree shade reduces solar radiation impact. Araucaria forests stored more carbon per tree, but the highest carbon stock per square meter was in a eucalyptus-dominated urban park. While UT Tyler trees were taller, UNCo exhibited higher carbon stock per square meter, likely due to tree density differences. These findings emphasize the need for ground-based measurements to improve tree height and carbon stock estimates. They also highlight the importance of urban and peri-urban forests in temperature regulation and carbon sequestration, supporting regulations that balance urban development and tree conservation.