Effect of Beach Grass Cover on Beach Thermal Environment in Summer

Abstract

This study conducted field observations in terms of beach surface temperature ground cover ratio of beach grass water content and grain size of beach sand in August 2003 at an open ocean beach in Japan in order to investigate the effect of the ground cover on thermal environment at beach. The temperatures of sandy area and grass area had strong proportional relationships with solar radiation. In addition the proportional coefficient of the grass area was one-tenth of that of the sandy area indicating that beach grass was effective in moderating the thermal environment in summer. Clear effects of the water content on the thermal environment could not be observed. These results obtained from high temporospatial resolution data will contribute to beach management.