Microclimate, Soil and Plant Dataset From a Mediterranean Urban Canyon With Irrigated Planters

Abstract

Dataset obtained from a fully instrumented experimental urban street canyon, located on a research site in Montpellier (France, Mediterranean climate) and monitored between 21 July 2023 and 31 July 2024. This east–west canyon consists of two parallel concrete walls (height 2.3 m, length 12 m, width 5 m). Three nearly adjacent planters (height 0.9 m, length 2.3 m, width 0.8 m) are aligned along its inner north wall and contain climbing plants of the Lonicera japonica species. Three other nearly adjacent planters (height 0.9 m, length 2.3 m, width 1.1 m) are aligned along its inner south wall and contain shrub plants of the Abelia grandiflora species. Each planter includes 11 sensors to measure soil temperature, water content and matric potential, collecting data every 10 min. Drip irrigation was used and each series of planters received identical irrigation amounts. The irrigation strategy changed several times, to monitor the impacts of irrigation on the overall water balance of the soil–plant–atmosphere system, especially on the local microclimatic variables. A dense network of 102 sensors was installed to monitor wind direction and velocity, air temperature, relative humidity, radiation, grey globe temperature and rainfall at 1.3 m above the ground, which is a standardised measurement height for determining the variables used to quantify thermal comfort indices. This dataset supports (i) understanding thermal, radiative and aerodynamic processes in urban canyons, (ii) detecting irrigation impact on microclimate, (iii) validating CFD-based microclimate models and (iv) identifying methods to manage urban heatwaves through water resource optimisation. By encompassing a full year of seasonal and climatic variability, this study is the first to evaluate the combined effects of vegetation type and irrigation on urban thermal comfort in a Mediterranean context, providing a significant contribution to urban microclimate research.