Comparisons of Air Temperature Summer Conditions Between an Urban Forest Park and Its Surrounding Built-Up Area with Their Nearby Mountainous Forest, in the Greater Athens Area, Greece

Abstract

The impacts of diurnal forest cooling effect and the nocturnal mountain katabatic flows (2:00–7:00 LST) to the average air temperature summer conditions inside an urban forest park in Athens, Greece, comparing also to the urban heat island (UHI) effect intensities formed in the surrounding built-up area were shown. The park is situated at the end part of a high greenbelt that starts from the western foothills of the Mt. Hymettus and penetrates into the city of Athens. The park is affected by the UHI between 16:00 and 1:00 h, with a maximum just after sunset at 21:00 LST.