Datasets on Berlin PCD-variability

The cooling services from urban green spaces (UGS) are controlled by various green, grey and blue parameters which may show high spatial and temporal variabilities. This study analyzes the Land Surface Temperature (LST), the Park Cooling Distance (PCD) and Park Cooling Intensity (PCI) of 228 parks, 512 allotments and 143 cemeteries in Berlin (Germany), based on six hot summer Landsat 8 Oli scenes. While LST displayed a low temporal and spatial variability (mean CV: 0.04 to 0.07), both coefficients were much higher for PCD (CV: 0.8 to 1.1) and PCI (CV: 0.6 to 1.0). Among the three UGS types, 50% of the cemetery sites showed a low temporal PCD variability (CV < 0.2), while only 20% of the allotment and 37% of the park sites belonged to this group. The PCD reliability was mainly related to outer parameters within the PCD, but regression analyses failed to conclusively explain this (R2: 0.3 to 0.4). Since the reliability of providing cooling services is an important feature of UGS sites, we developed a conceptual model for determining the relevance of UGS sites for UHI mitigation in Berlin. According to this approach, parks are most relevant, mainly due to their total area, abundance and high PCD, but also due to their proximity to the densely populated city center. Allotments provide the least and most unreliable cooling services in contrast to cemeteries where these are the most intense and most reliable, however least relevant due to their small total size and abundance.