Canopy &
the street.

How does tree cover relate to the air we walk through? A field study across the streets of Merewick.

Read the findings

Nia Aldersey & Owen Rill
Merewick Institute of Environment

Illustrated map of Merewick showing tree cover and paired sampling locations — **Where we walked.** Six routes spanning leafy residential streets and open civic spaces. Read the sampling method ↗

In one line

Shaded locations were 2.4°C cooler on average at midday in our sample.

Abstract

A small study.
A useful question.

This MSc project examines the association between street-tree canopy and pedestrian air temperature in Merewick. Paired sun and shade readings were collected along six walking routes over three clear afternoons. Shaded locations were cooler on average, with the largest difference at midday. The small sample, weather window and non-random site selection limit generalisation. The study offers a repeatable field protocol, rather than a causal estimate of tree cooling.

Read the paper summary

Study scope

At walking height.

Walking routes
across Merewick

Clear afternoons
in the field

1.5 m

Sensor height
above the pavement

Read the project

From pavement
to plot.

The method before the claim. The people behind the work. The files to inspect it yourself.

How we measuredRoute selection, instruments and field protocol

What we observedCompare the series and read the uncertainty

Open the notebookSummary, sample data, poster and citations

Context & notes

Check the source.

Project field protocol. Aldersey & Rill, 2026. Sampling and measurement notes.
Illustrative route-level observations, not an open municipal dataset. Dataset and variable definitions.
Limitations travel with the finding. Weather window and site selection.

The evidence, in view

Look at the figures.

Read the observations alongside the method, uncertainty and limits.