Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Geography

Supervisor

James Voogt

Abstract

A sensor view model is modified to include trees using a gap probability approach to estimate foliage view factors and an energy budget model for leaf surface temperatures (SUMVEG). The model is found to compare well with airborne thermal infrared (TIR) surface temperature measurements. SUMVEG is used to investigate the influence of trees on thermal anisotropy for narrow field-of-view TIR remote sensors over treed residential urban surfaces. Tests on regularly-spaced arrays of cubes on March 28 and June 21 at latitudes of 47.6°N and 25.8°N show that trees both decrease and increase anisotropy as a function of tree crown and building plan fractions. In compact geometries, anisotropy tends to decrease with tree crown plan fraction, with the opposite in open geometries, though trees taller than building height cause anisotropy to increase for all building plan fractions. These results help better understand and potentially correct urban thermal anisotropy.

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