Christine Kiernan, Aleksandra Michalska

NEW YORK (Reuters). New York City’s Central Park, a green lung that covers 843 acres, was created in 1858. Researchers hope it will be able to help other parks become more resilient.

Central Park Climate Lab will use satellite data and ground observations to analyze seasonal patterns as well the responses of animals and plants to weather shifts.

Karen Seto (professor of geography and urbanization science, Yale School of the Environment) said that “we also want to understand why the park is part of the problem.”

What amount of carbon has the park stored? Is the park providing cooling relief to residents as well as visitors?

This lab was founded with the help of two New York City-based non-profits, Central Park Conservancy (NYC) and Natural Areas Conservancy (NYC).

Seto said, “Cities will have to be part the climate change solutions.” “We hope to inform policies on how best to manage assets in the park… so that green space can keep providing cooling relief, air cleaning, and other benefits.”

Central Park has seen many extreme weather phenomena over the past decade.

On September 20,21, Hurricane Ida dumped 3.15 inches of rain in the park within an hour. That beat the mark set just 10 days before.

Peter Haupt (tree care manager at the Central Park Conservancy), stood beside an uprooted tree and explained that the Central Park Conservancy is currently installing tools to monitor incremental growth.

Haupt has been working in the park since almost thirteen years. Haupt stated, “Eventually get to the stage where we can make some decisions about how climate change impacts the park.”