Comparative Study of Transpiration in Cooling Effect of Tree Species in the Atmosphere

摘要

Trees create microclimate under their crowns in comparison to the outside ambient atmosphere, which is a result of physical as well as physiological functions of the tree. The cooling produced by trees varies with species due to variation in several anatomical, structural and physiological attributes of the species. Transpiration is one of the most significant physiological functions performed by plants, which affects cooling produced by a tree under its shade. When solar energy impinges on the leaf, water emerges from its surface through transpiration taking the latent heat to convert it into water vapour. This leads to a rise in humidity of the atmosphere and reduction in temperature of the leaf. To remain leaf in equilibrium, it takes heat from the surrounding atmosphere resulting in reduction in temperature of surroundings. Since, transpiration takes place through stomata which are normally located on the ventral side of the leaf, this reduction in temperature is more experienced beneath the crown of the tree. Therefore, the present study was carried out to analyze the role of transpiration in cooling effect of five forestry tree species. The cooling produced by tree species under their shades has been found positively correlated to the transpiration rate whereas the rate of transpiration has responded positively to the ambient temperature and water conductance. However, no definite relationship has been found between frequency of open stomata and the rate of transpiration.