Micro-scale Evaluation of the Relationship between Road Surface and Air Temperature with Respect to Various Surrounding Greenery Covers

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Abstract
The present study investigates the relationship between road surface temperature and air temperature above the road surface with respect to the surrounding road greenery covers. While the transition from native vegetation to artificial surfaces is a global phenomenon of rapid urbanization, the creation of roadside green areas can improve local ambient air quality. Road surfaces affected by the absorption and emission of incoming solar and outgoing long wave radiation contribute to increasing urban air temperature, which gradually impacts environmental quality and human comfort. For data collection of work, a handheld infrared thermometer and portable meteorological measuring instruments were used to measure the surface and air temperature at six experimental locations along roads oriented in different directions on the University Sains Malaysia, Main Campus in Penang, Malaysia. The data show that road surface temperature affects air temperature above the road surface. However, depending on road orientation, roadside trees can decrease the amount of solar radiation absorption by surface materials. Therefore, appropriate urban road designs can mitigate urban air temperature.