Surface temperature of Mangaluru increased by five degrees celsius in a decade: Tree Count Report of Nitte Deemed to be University

Decrease in the number of trees has led to increase in the surface temperature in Mangaluru by nearly five degree celsius between 2014 and 2022, according to the “Tree Count Report-Mangaluru 2023” brought out by Nitte (Deemed to be) University Centre for Science Education and Research (NUCSER).

The decrease in the number of trees has led to an increase in the surface temperature in Mangaluru by nearly five degrees celsius between 2014 and 2022, according to the ‘Tree Count Report-Mangaluru 2023’ brought out by Nitte (Deemed to be) University Centre for Science Education and Research (NUCSER).

The increase in the surface temperature is among the observations made in the report that was released by Nitte (Deemed to be University) Vice Chancellor M.S. Moodithaya during the World Urbanism Day function held at the university’s Paneer campus in Mangaluru on Friday.

The report is the product of a year-long count of 19,171 trees on the roadside in 50 wards (Ward No. 11 to 60) of Mangaluru, which started in November 2022. It was led by NUCSER Deputy Director Smitha Hegde, who is also Chief Coordinator of Sustainable Development Goals of the university. U. Rathan Kumar, architect Shreeya Deosant of Nitte Institute of Architecture (NIA) and over 50 students of Nitte, St. Joseph Engineering College and Alvas Institute of Engineering and Technology, were involved in the exercise.

Of 60 wards under the jurisdiction of Mangaluru City Corporation, the university selected 50 for the study. Only roadside trees were manually counted and trees on the private properties were not. The green cover on the private land was assessed using high intensity satellite images, according to Ms. Hegde.

The report points out that the average temperature of the city has risen from 32.2°C in 2014 to 32.95°C in 2022. The highest temperature was recorded at 42°C in 2014 while it was 47°C in 2022.

As much as 35.66% of the green cover in the city is on the private properties, while only 6.24% is on public property, the report said.

The Panambur ward leads among the wards with 2,532 trees, which accounts for 5% of the green cover on public land in wards. The next is Derebail East ward which has 1,161 trees, which accounts to 6.31% of green cover on the public land. Among the wards with less number trees include Bajal and Hoige Bazar wards, which were found with 1 tree each on the public land. Kudroli ward was found with 6 trees, while Kavoor and Bunder wards were found with 8 trees each.