Calibration process and parametrization of tropical plants using ENVI-met V4 – Sao Paulo case study

This work aims to improve the process of calibration of ENVI-met model based on air temperature in both built-up and vegetated areas, considering various parameters and models of trees. Field measurements were carried out in the city of Sao Paulo to monitor representative hot weather conditions inside an urban park and in a non-vegetated area nearby. The leaf density was calculated using a non-destructive indirect method with hemispherical photographs analysed in Can-Eye 6.1 model. Based on LAI measurements and on the characteristics of tropical species, four typologies of trees were created with different leaf distribution inside the crown. After a calibration process in which modelling parameters were tested and several simulations were run, a high agreement between simulation results and on-site measurements with an RMSE of 0.7 K could be achieved.