ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF URBAN GREEN SPACES FOR CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION USING THE EDDY COVARIANCE TECHNIQUE

Abstract

In the context of ongoing population growth, the expansion of urban areas and the shift in land use from forests to cities have become increasingly evident. These land use changes are regarded as one of the primary contributors to the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. As such, the restoration and development of green spaces in urban areas serve as an important mechanism for capturing carbon dioxide through the photosynthetic process of plants. This study aims to investigate the potential for carbon dioxide exchange and the differences in its movement between urban green areas and built-up urban areas. The Eddy Covariance technique was applied to measure the carbon dioxide flux within the atmosphere. To illustrate the contrast in land use and land cover, the “Deep Forest” area of The Forestias Project was selected to represent the urban green area, while the Kasetsart University Meteorological and Air Pollution Monitoring Tower (KU Tower) was chosen to represent the urban area. The findings suggest that in the Deep Forest green area, the carbon dioxide sequestration (Sink) flux, based on 24-hour average values for the wet and dry seasons, was -3.81 and -2.01 tons/rai/year, respectively, indicating effective carbon absorption through plant photosynthesis. Conversely, the KU Tower area showed carbon dioxide emissions (Source) of +4.21 and +4.13 tons/rai/year during the wet and dry seasons, respectively, reflecting emissions from urban-related activities. Overall, the results support the promotion and integration of urban green spaces in tropical climates as a strategic approach to mitigating the impacts of climate change and enhancing urban sustainability.