北京城市绿地的蒸腾降温功能及其经济价值评估

尽管已有大量研究证实,城市绿地具有明显降温作用,但是从生态经济学角度定量评估城市绿地降温功能及其价值的研究不多.以夏季高温热害显著的北京建成区为研究区,在前人多项绿地降温功能实测结果基础上,利用第七次园林绿地资源调查数据,定量评估了城市绿地夏季蒸腾降温的功能及其价值.结果表明:北京建成区6.1万hm2绿地每年夏季蒸腾吸热可达4.61×1015 J,平均每公顷绿地每天吸热8.4×108 J,相当于10台1000瓦空调的降温作用.参照居民用电价格,建成区绿地夏季降温价值为6.4亿元,单位绿地降温价值约1.05元/m2.此外,不同绿地类型和区县绿地的降温功能差异较大,主要受绿地面积和组成结构的影响.     

高度城市化区域汇水域尺度LUCC的降雨径流调蓄效应——以上海城市绿地系统为例

快速城市化进程导致的土地利用/土地覆被变化(LUCC),对城市地表水文过程影响显著.城市绿地作为主要的城市透水型下垫面类型,具有良好的降雨径流调蓄效应.利用2000、2003年上海中心城区小尺度城市汇水域的LUCC、降雨和径流资料,以绿地系统为例,分析了高度城市化区域内,面积分别为2.60 km2和2.77 km2的相邻汇水域LUCC的水文过程.结果表明,高度城市化区域内小尺度城市汇水域的城市绿地系统具有良好的削减城市雨水径流总量和延缓雨水径流洪峰现时的调蓄效应.案例研究显示,在绿地系统面积比例分别为39.13%和27.36%,边界条件相近的对比城市汇水域内,10%绿地系统面积比例差,及其绿地结构、覆被植物和土壤类型的差异共同造成:①对比汇水域年径流系数存在约0.3的差别;②对24 h降雨量为42.8 mm的大雨径流过程,延后径流峰值出现时间约20 min;③对24 h降雨量超过270 mm的特大暴雨径流过程,削减地表径流系数约0.1.     

半湿润地区外源径流型海绵绿地设计方法研究——以迁安市滨湖东路绿地为例

海绵城市建设视角下的城市绿地在调蓄城市雨洪中承担着日益重要的角色,半湿润地区的海绵绿地具有显著特征,总结其设计方法可为风景园林行业的相关研究和实践提供参考。以河北省迁安市滨湖东路绿地的建设全过程为研究对象,以保障绿地的基本功能和消减绿地内外部径流为前提,将半湿润地区降雨特征 作为研究基础,提出半湿润地区外源径流型海绵绿地的设计方法。针对绿地内部的低影响开发（low impact development,简称 LID）体系,利用 Xpdrainage 软件对场地开发前、后进行不同重现期降雨条件下的径流排放过程的情景模拟,对比分析二者的径流总量、峰值流量和峰现时间。结论： 1）在不同重现期降雨量下,滨湖东路绿地调蓄雨水径流作用显著; 2）半湿润地区外源径流型海绵绿地在设计时须利用定性分析结合定量模拟的设计方法。     

沈阳市城区绿地生态系统服务价值的时空变化

城市绿地是城市自然生态系统的组成部分,具有十分重要的生态服务功能.基于沈阳市城区2005、2010和2015年3期土地利用数据,参照中国生态系统单位面积生态服务价值当量,计算沈阳市绿地系统生态服务价值,分析其时空变化特征及变化速率.结果表明: 研究期间,沈阳市耕地面积降低最明显,2005—2010和2010—2015年的降幅分别达3.5%、10.9%;林地面积增加幅度较小,草地面积的增幅达17.2%.2005—2010年,沈阳绿地生态系统服务价值从2005年的11.76亿元增加至2010年的23.48亿元,然后下降至2015年的11.29亿元.各行政区绿地生态系统服务价值年变化存在显著差异,于洪区、沈北新区以及和平区变化最显著,变异系数分别达到64.9%、60.4%和40.8%,不同行政区绿地生态系统服务价值也存在显著差异,皇姑区、棋盘山区和东陵区地均生态系统服务价值较高.研究区土壤保持功能的服务价值最高,占总服务价值的15%以上.研究期间,粮食生产功能的服务价值降低最明显,城市扩张和农业用地转变以及城市公园绿地的建设是绿地生态系统服务价值变化的主要因素.     

Citygreen模型在南京城市绿地固碳与削减径流效益评估中的应用

在剖析美国Citygreen模型评估城市绿地固碳效益与削减径流效益运算原理的基础上,将该模型应用于中国南京主城区,探索模型所需数据的获取方法及途径,计算不同类型城市用地的生态效益及价值.结果表明:城市地区不同类型植被固碳效益相当于等面积自然山林的5%～60%;南京主城区绿地固碳与削减径流两项生态价值之和约为1·77×108元;城市6类建设用地的植被固碳与削减径流生态效益从高到低依次为:绿地、公共设施用地、居住用地、道路广场用地、工业用地和市政设施用地.研究结果能够指导城市规划和绿地建设,并对中国城市绿地生态效益定量评价的广泛开展具有一定意义.     

城市工业区绿地生态服务功能的计量评价——以武汉钢铁公司厂区绿地为例

城市绿地作为城市生态系统的重要组成部分,在改善城市环境质量上发挥了重要作用。特别是在城市大型工业区,其环境质量的改善更是依赖于绿地生态服务功能。以城市绿地固定二氧化碳、释放氧气、蒸腾吸热、减少污染物、滞尘、减噪等6项生态服务功能作为城市工业区生态效益计量评价的指标体系,在对武汉钢铁公司厂区绿地实地调查的基础上,并结合绿地GIS和各层片叶面积指数,对厂区绿地叶面积绿量进行了定量研究。并通过各层片单位叶面积生态效益值的测定,定量研究了城市工业区绿地的生态服务功能。结果表明,厂区绿地叶面积总绿量是1694.21 hm2,以乡土乔木树种为主,其中落叶乔木绿量为399.8 hm2,常绿乔木绿量为409.0 hm2。城市绿地的生态效益取决于绿地叶面积绿量和植被生态功能,植被生态功能由组成植物本身的冠形、叶表面特性及生理特性决定。单位叶面积日固碳释氧量和蒸腾吸热量均以草本类最大;常绿乔木叶片对SO2污染物的年吸收量最大,为0.81 g.m-2.a-1;而常绿灌木和落叶灌木叶片的滞尘能力较强,草本类滞尘能力最弱。武钢厂区园林绿地生态服务功能的年总货币值为人民币20100.21万元,以夏季蒸腾吸热效益的货币值最高,达16330.56万元。其次是固定二氧化碳效益的货币值为2969.39万元,固定CO2量为23850.50 t.a-1。吸收SO2量为6563.44 kg.a-1,其货币化值所占比重最小,只有0.39万元。厂区园林绿地年释放O2量为17345.82 t.a-1,年滞尘量2884.51 t.a-1。在城市工业区绿化中,应根据绿地功能需要,配置适应环境且生态功能强的树种,并通过绿地合理的复层结构来增加单位绿地面积上的绿量水平,以增强绿地的生态服务功能,有效地改善工矿企业的环境质量。     

城市绿地资源影响房产价值的研究综述

为借鉴国外城市绿地与房产价值关系研究的先进经验,该文重点介绍了欧美地区城市绿地与房产价值实证研究的结论及方法。多项研究表明,城市绿地能促进附近房产增值5 %-20 %,不过增值效果与绿地的地段、类型以及面积有关,甚至有的表现为负效应。这种影响只存在距离绿地100 m-500 m范围内,且随着房产到绿地距离的增加而降低。研究方法由单要素简单的理论模型发展到多要素复杂的实证模型,其中享乐价格法（HPM）最为常见,不过这些方法都有各自的优缺点。此类研究有助于促进科学合理的房地产开发、城市规划和绿地建设,因此我国亟需重视与开展城市绿地与房产价值的实证研究及其应用。     

济南市城市绿地可达性分析

以济南市1989、1996和2004年SPOT遥感卫星影像数据解译的城市绿地分类图、道路图和水系图为基础数据资料,在遥感(RS)和地理信息系统(GIS)技术支持下,运用景观可达性的概念与原理,采用费用加权距离方法,对济南市整体绿地系统和公园与广场绿地可达性的时空动态变化及其原因进行了分析。研究结果表明:1)济南市城市绿地的可达性不断提高与改善;2)济南市城市绿地可达性的空间格局变化明显,但仍不均衡、不太合理;3)城市绿地面积和斑块数量的不断增加、绿地分布格局的日益均衡和道路网的日臻完善是可达性不断提高的主要原因;4)城市绿地可达性分析是衡量城市绿地服务功能社会公平性的有力手段,充分体现城市建设“以人为本”的理念,是目前生态城市评价指标体系的必要补充。因此,城市绿地可达性分析结果可为合理调整与设计城市绿地系统提供科学依据。     

青岛市城市绿地生态系统的环境净化服务价值

在分析青岛市城市绿地空间分布及面积动态变化基础上,利用市场价值法、生产成本法、替代费用法等方法计算了1999-2009年各年度青岛市城市绿地生态系统的环境净化服务价值。结果表明,1999-2009年青岛市城市绿地的环境净化服务价值由1.587×10⁸元增至3.491×10⁸元,人均城市绿地的环境净化服务价值由68.42元增至126.73元。11a间青岛市城市绿地的环境净化服务价值增加了1.904×10⁸元,平均年增长率为10.91%。在青岛市城市绿地生态系统环境净化服务总价值构成中,其气体调节服务价值占总价值的49.81%- 51.72%,而吸收有害气体和滞尘服务价值、减弱噪声服务价值占48.28%-50.19%。城市绿地的气体调节服务具有地域空间的可转移性,可以由城市以外的自然生态系统补偿;而其吸收有害气体和滞尘服务与减弱噪声服务则不具有地域空间的可转移性。加强城市绿地建设、提高城市绿化水平是改善青岛市城市环境和提高城市居民生活质量的有效措施。     

城市绿地暴露与人群健康效应研究

城市绿地是城市绿色基础设施和基于自然解决方案的主要载体,为人群提供了多种生态系统服务,关注人群健康和绿地布局的城市绿地暴露研究已经成为城市生态学、城市可持续发展等学科的前沿热点。目前国内外城市绿地暴露与人群健康研究仍处在兴起的初步发展状态,缺乏有效和公认的研究范式。尝试通过暴露科学的视角,研究城市绿地暴露及其人群健康效应的研究的热点领域:(1)从城市人群的绿地暴露特征来看,绿地暴露研究与现有旨在预防和减少环境污染暴露风险的传统环境健康研究的视角有显著不同,其目标是充分理解人群的绿地暴露特征及其产生健康效应的机制,鼓励和提高人群与绿地的有效和有益接触,服务于城市绿地和健康社区营造的科学规划和决策。(2)从城市绿地暴露的量化表征来看,现有的多种绿地暴露评价指标包括绿地可得性、绿地可及性和绿地可视性等多是表征了绿地的供给状况,并非直接的绿地暴露过程描述,未来可以结合城市人群的绿地暴露时空动态模式,参照总暴露数学方程来综合量化不同途径、访问周期、暴露时长等因素。(3)从城市绿地暴露的人群健康效应机制来看,现有绿地暴露的健康效应机制研究获得的通用理论性成果还不多,面临的挑战主要是:不同绿地健康效应研究采用的暴露特征指标不同,绿地暴露特征影响人群健康存在显著的尺度性,以及缺乏统一的绿地暴露健康效应调查方法。绿地在城市规划和建设中的作用尤其突出,但绿地的人群健康促进功能在我国城市规划和建设中还鲜有应用,作为城市生态学与环境风险、公共健康以及可持续发展的交叉前沿领域,相关成果将为指导健康导向的可持续城市/社区规划与建设提供直接的科学依据与理论支撑。     

社区尺度绿色基础设施暴雨径流消减模拟研究

当前快速的城市化进程导致了城市地区内涝事件频繁发生。绿色基础设施是减轻城市洪涝的有效措施之一。SWMM(Storm Water Management Model)等模型的复杂性使得规划管理者对模型的操作和应用存在困难,而且缺乏对绿色基础设施径流消减机制的展现。目前的研究中,比较单个与综合绿色基础设施配置径流消减效果的研究相对较少。基于水量平衡和城市水文过程,开发了社区尺度绿色基础设施消减作用的暴雨径流模型,并以北京市一典型社区为例,模拟研究了一年一遇和五年一遇两种暴雨条件下不同绿色基础设施配置对暴雨径流流量和峰值的消减效率。结果表明:用两场野外监测的降雨和径流数据验证模型得到的决定系数分别为0.68和0.71,纳什效率系数分别达到0.99和0.96,表明模型是可靠的。在一年一遇和五年一遇两种暴雨条件下,将常规绿地改造成5 cm深度的下凹式绿地,径流量分别减少了8.23%和23.30%,径流峰值分别减少了20.31%和29.11%;在建造300 m3调蓄池的情景下,径流量分别减少了84.90%和20.97%,径流峰值分别减少了88.99%和0.10%;在50%的不透水地表铺装透水砖情景下,径流量分别减少了46.51%和38.52%,径流峰值分别减少了39.96%和35.48%。3种绿色基础设施都可以较好的消减社区暴雨径流,但是随着暴雨强度的增强,下凹式绿地的消减效果略增强,调蓄池的消减效果变差,透水砖铺装的消减效果较稳定。综合3种措施对暴雨径流具有显著消减效果,可以100%消减一年一遇暴雨产生的径流,在五年一遇设计暴雨条件下,分别消减75.47%的总径流量和64.52%的径流峰值。     

基于组合绿色生态措施的北方城市雨雪径流削减模拟

以北方城市雨雪径流削减控制为研究目标,通过构建SWMM雨雪径流模型对北方城市夏季降雨径流量和春季融雪径流量进行模拟.同时根据研究区气候特点和实际情况制定了符合研究区低影响开发(LID)绿色生态措施方案,通过加入简单式绿化屋顶、雨雪收集双用装置和下凹式绿地3种控制措施,模拟了组合绿色生态措施对研究区夏季降雨和春季融雪径流的削减以及对排水管网压力的缓解效果.结果表明:2016年5月24日、6月10日和7月18日3场实测降雨模拟的最大径流量分别为2.7、6.2和7.4 m^3·s^-1,1、2、5、10年4种不同重现期降雨条件下的峰值流量分别为2.39、3.91、6.24和7.85 m^3·s^-1;在融雪期,峰值流量出现在3月初.LID措施在雨季对削减峰值流量、延迟峰值时间和缓解排水压力具有很好的控制效果,削减率最高可达70%左右,而且通过加入雪收集装置,对春季融雪径流也有一定的控制效果.     

亚热带季风区城市典型绿化屋顶的径流削减效应

屋顶绿化能够削减暴雨径流,降低城市内涝发生频率,促进可持续雨洪管理。针对亚热带季风气候区典型绿化屋顶的全年径流削减效应,以南京为研究区,以简易型、花园型两类绿化屋顶为研究对象,基于1年现场观测数据及水量平衡方程,分析屋顶雨水的滞蓄、蒸发与径流量随季节变化规律及其关键影响因子,采用SCS-CN模型计算绿化屋面的径流曲线数(CN),并估算城市尺度大面积屋顶绿化的暴雨径流削减效果。结果显示,简易型、花园型绿化屋顶全年径流削减率分别为42%和60.7%;径流削减效应的四季排序为春季冬季秋季夏季,平均径流削减率依次为78.6%、47.5%、33.2%、32.9%(简易型)及98%、84.3%、49.5%、48.1%(花园型);土壤基质层对雨水截留起主导作用,分别占径流削减总量的52%和62%;雨量和雨强是影响径流削减效应的关键因子,与径流削减率均呈显著负相关关系(P0.01),初始土壤湿度与简易型绿化屋顶的径流削减率呈显著负相关(0.01P0.05),但与花园型的径流削减率无显著相关性;基于全年77次降雨事件的降雨量-径流量数据测算得到简易型和花园型绿化屋顶的CN值分别为92和88;若南京主城区所有建筑屋顶面积的60%实施两类绿化,则其全年径流量可分别削减2.8×10~7 m~3和4.2×10~7 m~3。以上研究结果可为城市雨洪管理和海绵城市建设提供科学依据。     

基于暴雨径流管理模型的海绵城市景观格局优化模拟

随着我国城镇化进程加快,城市不透水面积急剧增加,城市内涝问题日益严重.为此我国基于低影响开发理念提出了海绵城市概念.本研究以辽宁省沈抚新城中心城区作为研究区域,利用暴雨强度公式构建不同重现期的降雨过程,基于海绵城市理念对研究区进行景观格局优化,并运用暴雨径流管理模型模拟预规划方案和景观格局优化方案两种情景下的地表径流和雨水调控能力的差异,分析景观格局优化方案对城市地表径流和雨水调控能力的影响.结果表明: 随着降雨重现期的增大,研究区内径流总量和径流系数呈上升趋势;在相同降雨重现期下,景观格局优化方案的径流系数明显降低,径流总量的削减量逐渐增加,1年一遇、3年一遇、5年一遇和50年一遇重现期下的削减量分别为2.94、3.58、3.72、4.19 mm;相对应的削减率逐渐降低,分别为23.9%、16.4%、14.3%、9.3%;优化后的方案可满足降雨重现期p=1时设计降雨量20.8 mm、p=3时雨水管网不超载且p=50时河道不溢流的要求.     

How does imperviousness impact the urban rainfall-runoff process under various storm cases?

Dramatic changes in imperviousness exert significant influence on the rainfall-runoff process in urban catchments. In urban rainwater management, imperviousness is generally adopted as an effective indicator for assessing potential runoff risk. However, the effects of imperviousness on rainfall-runoff at the scale of small urbanized drainage areas have not been fully determined, particularly when various storm characteristics are considered. In this paper, a model-based analysis is conducted in a typical urban residential catchment in Beijing, China, in which 69 subareas are delineated within the catchment as the basic drainage units. Two metrics, total impervious area (TIA) and directly connected impervious area (DCIA), are employed to quantify the spatial characteristics of imperviousness of the subareas. Three runoff variables within the delineated subareas including total runoff depth (Q_t), peak runoff depth (Q_p), and lag time (T_lag) are simulated by using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to represent the specific rainfall-runoff characteristics. Moreover, model input storms are designated to several typical flood-induced rainfall events with varying amounts, locations of rainfall peak, and durations for holistic assessment of imperviousness. Regression analyses are conducted to explore the contributions and relative significances of impervious metrics in predicting runoff variables under various storm cases. The results indicate that the performances of imperviousness with fine spatial scale (<1 ha) and heavy rainfall conditions (>34 mm) may vary markedly according to storm conditions. Specifically, TIA rather than DCIA acts as a dominate factor affecting total runoff, and its significance maintains relatively stable with various storm conditions. In addition, the combined use of both TIA and DCIA are more effective for predicting peak runoff than that using a single impervious metric; however, rainfall amount, peak location, and duration alter the contribution gaps between TIA and DCIA and the overall performance of the regression model. Moreover, DCIA is more likely to affect runoff lag time without the contribution of TIA; however, an increase in rainfall peak ratio or duration will significantly limit its performance. These results can provide insight into the hydrologic performance of imperviousness, which is essential for landscape design and runoff regulation in small urban catchments.     

Valuing urban green spaces in mitigating climate change: A city‐wide estimate of aboveground carbon stored in urban green spaces of China's Capital

Urban green spaces provide manifold environmental benefits and promote human well‐being. Unfortunately, these services are largely undervalued, and the potential of urban areas themselves to mitigate future climate change has received little attention. In this study, we quantified and mapped city‐wide aboveground carbon storage of urban green spaces in China's capital, Beijing, using field survey data of diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height from 326 field survey plots, combined with satellite‐derived vegetation index at a fine resolution of 6 m. We estimated the total amount of carbon stored in the urban green spaces to be 956.3 Gg (1 Gg = 10⁹ g) in 2014. There existed great spatial heterogeneity in vegetation carbon density varying from 0 to 68.1 Mg C ha^‐1, with an average density of 7.8 Mg C ha^?1. As expected, carbon density tended to decrease with urban development intensity (UDI). Likely being affected by vegetation cover proportion and configuration of green space patches, large differences were presented between the 95th and 5th quantile carbon density for each UDI bin, showing great potential for carbon sequestration. However, the interquartile range of carbon density narrowed drastically when UDI reached 60%, signifying a threshold for greatly reduced carbon sequestration potentials for higher UDI. These findings suggested that urban green spaces have great potential to make contribution to mitigating against future climate change if we plan and design urban green spaces following the trajectory of high carbon density, but we should be aware that such potential will be very limited when the urban development reaches certain intensity threshold.     

绿色基础设施的生态及社会功能研究进展

随着城市化进程的加快,城市硬化地表不断挤占透水表面,使得绿色基础设施规模不断下降、破碎化程度逐渐加大,严重影响了绿色基础设施服务功能的有效发挥。绿色基础设施的发展经历了早期萌芽、初步形成和快速发展三个阶段,主要在宏观尺度研究区域生态安全,中观尺度促进城市可持续发展,微观尺度解决社区生态环境问题。目前绿色基础设施的研究内容集中在其生态功能和社会功能两个方面,主要关注调蓄降雨径流、消减非点源污染、调节区域微气候、居民健康与福祉和空间布局公平性。而供需结构的合理配置也是决定绿色基础设施服务水平的关键因素。未来的研究应加强与相关学科的交叉融合,完善绿色基础设施功能的测度与评估方法,将绿色基础设施建设与实际规划相结合,以期为区域可持续发展和国家生态文明建设提供支撑与保障。     

Runoff characteristics in a small mountain basin analyzed by the use of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes

The hydrograph of a small drainage basin was separated into the components of direct runoff, soil water runoff, and ground water runoff, by a method using a stable isotope (¹⁸O and deuterium) to analyze its hydrological characteristics. It shows that the direct runoff consists of rainwater during the event, soil water runoff originating from the latest rainwater before the event, and groundwater runoff is a perfect mixture of rainwater brought to the catchment throughout the year. If these water masses constitute a triangle on a δD–δ¹⁸O diagram, they are independent of each other, and the separation gives a unique result. A comparison of the above results with the hydrograph separation in terms of the response time using a tank model led to an estimation of the flow path and dynamics of each runoff component. This study investigates the mixing process involved with these runoff components and, further, identifies physical properties to be observed in the field to provide for a more detailed analysis of the runoff process. Received: December 6, 1999 / Accepted: May 9, 2000     

Urban Stormwater Runoff: A New Class of Environmental Flow Problem

Environmental flow assessment frameworks have begun to consider changes to flow regimes resulting from land-use change. Urban stormwater runoff, which degrades streams through altered volume, pattern and quality of flow, presents a problem that challenges dominant approaches to stormwater and water resource management, and to environmental flow assessment. We used evidence of ecological response to different stormwater drainage systems to develop methods for input to environmental flow assessment. We identified the nature of hydrologic change resulting from conventional urban stormwater runoff, and the mechanisms by which such hydrologic change is prevented in streams where ecological condition has been protected. We also quantified the increase in total volume resulting from urban stormwater runoff, by comparing annual streamflow volumes from undeveloped catchments with the volumes that would run off impervious surfaces under the same rainfall regimes. In catchments with as little as 5–10% total imperviousness, conventional stormwater drainage, associated with poor in-stream ecological condition, reduces contributions to baseflows and increases the frequency and magnitude of storm flows, but in similarly impervious catchments in which streams retain good ecological condition, informal drainage to forested hillslopes, without a direct piped discharge to the stream, results in little such hydrologic change. In urbanized catchments, dispersed urban stormwater retention measures can potentially protect urban stream ecosystems by mimicking the hydrologic effects of informal drainage, if sufficient water is harvested and kept out of the stream, and if discharged water is treated to a suitable quality. Urban stormwater is a new class of environmental flow problem: one that requires reduction of a large excess volume of water to maintain riverine ecological integrity. It is the best type of problem, because solving it provides an opportunity to solve other problems such as the provision of water for human use.     

Green roof performance towards management of runoff water quantity and quality: A review

This review paper addresses the role of green roofs in urban drainage considering both management of water quantity and quality. Results from investigation of full scale installations as well as from laboratory models are reviewed. The following factors affecting runoff dynamics from green roofs are discussed: type of green roof and its geometrical properties (slope); soil moisture characteristics; season, weather and rainfall characteristics; age of green roof; vegetation. Design parameters as suggested by different authors are also reviewed. Factors which affect influence of a green roof on runoff water quality are discussed in general terms followed by the review of data regarding concentrations of phosphorus, nitrogen, and heavy metals in green roof runoff, its’ pH, and first flush effect. Linking among fertilization, runoff pollution and vegetation development is given a particular focus. The review indicates clearly that there is a need for more research into a green roof performance in an urban environment. The differences measured by few existing studies between the early years performance of green roofs and the later years indicate a need for long term monitoring of green roofs.