Cooling power of the humble tree

Plan to plant a million trees over the next decade shines spotlight on their unique cooling abilities

Tristaniopsis merguensis (above), Hopea ferruginea and Cratoxylum cochinchinense are among native trees that will be planted in Singapore’s One Million Trees movement. The initiative comes amid a resurgence in global awareness of the role of the humble tr
Tristaniopsis merguensis (above), Hopea ferruginea and Cratoxylum cochinchinense are among native trees that will be planted in Singapore’s One Million Trees movement. The initiative comes amid a resurgence in global awareness of the role of the humble tree in combating climate change by capturing heat-trapping carbon dioxide. PHOTOS: NPARKS
Tristaniopsis merguensis, Hopea ferruginea (above) and Cratoxylum cochinchinense are among native trees that will be planted in Singapore’s One Million Trees movement. The initiative comes amid a resurgence in global awareness of the role of the humble tr
Tristaniopsis merguensis, Hopea ferruginea (above) and Cratoxylum cochinchinense are among native trees that will be planted in Singapore’s One Million Trees movement. The initiative comes amid a resurgence in global awareness of the role of the humble tree in combating climate change by capturing heat-trapping carbon dioxide. PHOTOS: NPARKS
Tristaniopsis merguensis, Hopea ferruginea and Cratoxylum cochinchinense (above) are among native trees that will be planted in Singapore’s One Million Trees movement. The initiative comes amid a resurgence in global awareness of the role of the humble tr
Tristaniopsis merguensis, Hopea ferruginea and Cratoxylum cochinchinense (above) are among native trees that will be planted in Singapore’s One Million Trees movement. The initiative comes amid a resurgence in global awareness of the role of the humble tree in combating climate change by capturing heat-trapping carbon dioxide. PHOTOS: NPARKS
Audrey Tan
Science and Environment Correspondent
Updated
Mar 17, 2020, 08:06 PM
Published
Mar 14, 2020, 05:00 AM
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Evapo-transpiration is the scientific term that describes how trees "perspire" by using the sun's energy to evaporate water from their leaves, thus helping to cool their surroundings.

The process cools down the plant the way sweating cools our skin and reduces the amount of energy left to warm the air, said Dr Lahiru Wijedasa, a botanist at the National University of Singapore.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 14, 2020, with the headline Cooling power of the humble tree. Subscribe

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