Relative influence of city structure on canopy photosynthesis

No analytical models seem to exist which are capable of investigating the relative effects of the physical urban landscape on the rates of leaf net photosynthesis in canopies. This paper deals with the results of the combination of two deterministic models: a multi-layered canopy leaf energy budget-photosynthesis model CANOPY and a complex, analytical street canyon energy budget model URBAN 3. Both models were validated previously. A range of three widely contrasting plant photosynthesis response systems (C3 and C4 plants) were chosen as well as were different latitudes, seasons, and urban morphologies. The results indicated both reductions and increases of relative photosynthesis and an almost linear correlation between relative sunlit area and relative net photosynthesis.