A warming Melbourne may need to consider a Sydney tree-change

These two thermal images, side by side, show how much trees can help keep the city cool during the sweltering summer months.

The temperature on the surface of the black,
heat-absorbing asphalt is about 60 degrees.

The first shows a section of Elizabeth Street, opposite the Queen Victoria Market, on a 36.7 degree day in January.

But take a look at the second image, taken a short way up the road.

The presence of the trees shield the nearby area from the harsh sunlight and also slightly cool their surroundings by drawing in moisture from the ground.

Read Craig Butt’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “A warming Melbourne may need to consider a Sydney tree-change.”