Can Urban Meadows Support Climate Resilience? Seasonal Microclimatic Effects in a Central European City

Abstract

Urban green spaces are widely promoted as effective tools to improve climate and mitigate heat stress in rapidly densifying cities. While regularly mown lawns remain the dominant form of urban greenery, urban flower meadows are increasingly advocated as a sustainable and multifunctional alternative. However, their microclimatic effects are often assumed rather than empirically assessed across different stages of vegetation during the growing season. This study provides a comparative in-situ assessment of a maintained lawn and an urban flower meadow in Olomouc (Czech Republic), focusing on their microclimatic and soil conditions during three summer measurement campaigns. Particular attention is paid to the role of vegetation phenology in shaping near-surface thermal conditions. Prior to flowering, the meadow consistently had higher UTCI values than the lawn during the day, despite similar air temperature, indicating that meadows do not automatically reduce heat stress in early summer. After flowering and partial senescence, this relationship shifted, with reduced heat stress observed above the meadow despite slightly higher air temperature. Throughout all campaigns, the soil beneath the meadow remained consistently cooler and wetter than beneath the lawn. These findings demonstrate that the microclimatic response of urban flower meadows is strongly phase-dependent and cannot be generalised across the growing season. Beyond the microclimatic effect, stable soil cooling and moisture retention highlight an important contribution of urban flower meadows to drought resilience, soil protection, and ecosystem stability in urban environments.