Walking through forest cools body faster than city streets during heat wave: study
Walking through a forest trail lowers the heat strain on the human body significantly faster than walking on asphalt roads in the city, according to a field experiment by the National Institute of Forest Science, a research body under the Korea Forest Service, conducted amid Korea's ongoing summer heat wave. The institute tested the cooling effect of Hongneung Forest, an experimental forest in…
A recent field experiment conducted by the National Institute of Forest Science in South Korea has revealed that walking through a forest trail provides significantly more cooling benefits to the human body than walking on asphalt roads during a heat wave. The study took place in Hongneung Forest, an ancient forest in Dongdaemun District dating back to the Joseon era.
Researchers utilized thermal imaging cameras to compare participants' heat responses while strolling on a forest trail versus a nearby asphalt road. Those who walked the forest trail experienced their facial surface temperature dropping by up to 1.9 degrees Celsius from the start, and this cooling effect persisted even after they finished their walk. The average facial surface temperature began at 37.0 degrees Celsius on the asphalt road and only slightly improved to 38.1 degrees by the end of the route.
Compared to walking on asphalt, the forest trail resulted in 1.1 degrees lower facial surface temperatures on average throughout the entire walking route. This research highlights the natural cooling properties of forests, offering a more effective alternative to city streets during extreme heat conditions.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
