Validation using eddy covariance data and SWEUS model for the calculation of the energy balance at the center of Heraklion cityValidation using eddy covariance data and SWEUS model for the calculation of the energy balance at the center of Heraklion cityΒαθμονόμηση με τη χρήση δεδομένων από σταθμό eddy covariance και χρήση μοντέλου SWEUS για τον υπολογισμό του ισοζυγίου ενέργειας στο κέντρο του Ηρακλείου Μεταπτυχιακή Διατριβή Master Thesis 2020-11-132020enPresent paper aims to study the impact of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) on the urban environment. The Surface Urban Energy and Water balance Scheme (SUEWS) is used to quantify the impact of NBS in the city of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, a densely built urban area. Local meteorological data and data from an Eddy Covariance flux tower installed in the city center are used for the model simulation and evaluation. Five different scenarios are tested by replacing the city's roofs and pavements with green infrastructure, i.e. trees and grass, and water bodies. NBS impact evaluation is based on the changes of air temperature above 2m from the ground, relative humidity and energy fluxes. A decrease of the air temperature is revealed with the highest reduction (2.3%) occurring when the pavements are replaced with grass for all scenarios. The reduction of the air temperature is followed by a decrease in turbulent sensible heat flux. For almost all cases, an increase of the relative humidity is noticed, accompanied by a considerable increase of the turbulent latent heat flux. Therefore, NBS in cities change the energy balance significantly and modify the urban environment for the citizens' benefit.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης::Σχολή Μηχανικών ΠεριβάλλοντοςPanagiotakis_Emmanouil_MSc_2020Chania [Greece]Library of TUC2020-11-12application/pdf3 MBfree Panagiotakis Emmanouil Παναγιωτακης Εμμανουηλ Lazaridis Michail Λαζαριδης Μιχαηλ Kolokotsa Dionysia Κολοκοτσα Διονυσια Σταγάκης, Σταύρος Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης Technical University of Crete Urban energy fluxes Urban climate SUEWS model Nature based solutions(NBS)