Author(s): Dario Pumo; Matteo Ippolito; Francesco Alongi; Marcella Cannarozzo; Calogero Mattina; Leonardo Valerio Noto
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Abstract: The Mediterranean basin is a possible hot-spot for climate change, in which phenomena of extreme rainfall, water scarcity and heat waves are increasingly frequent and intense, and their impact on urban settlements is further exacerbated by anthropogenic activities and the growing loss of natural soils. Green roofs (GRs) are multi-purposes, sustainable and low-cost climate-adaptive measures, which in urban areas can effectively counteract the adverse impacts of new urban challenges such as urban heat islands, water scarcity issues, floodings, air and water pollution and biodiversity loss. Multilayer green roofs (MGR) are GRs characterized by a high-capacity water storage layer, which favours the rainwater lamination effect, mitigating possible stress on urban drainage systems during extreme storms. Moreover, the intercepted rainwater can be reused by the same vegetation of the system and/or as grey water for residential uses. Modelling the behaviour of urban green infrastructures plays a crucial role in optimizing their performance and driving design criteria. The present work proposes a new ecohydrological model to simulate the hydrological response of MGRs to climate forcings. The model is implemented based on an experimental site in Palermo (Italy), using data collected over a monitoring period of more than 3 years, from Dec. 22nd, 2020 to Jan. 31st, 2024. Model reproduction of the observed runoff generated by the system is very promising and demonstrates the suitability of the model as a valid tool for cost-benefit analyses and the evaluation of different ecosystem services offered by such urban green infrastructures.
Year: 2024