The Coolest Umbrella
Did you know that a Living Umbrella® can keep you feeling 8° F cooler than an old-fashioned fabric umbrella? The canopy above keeps you cool because of plant evapotranspiration, a natural process whereby plants and the soils around them release water, which lowers the surrounding temperature.
Plant transpiration and ecosystem evaporation is a biophysical process in which water changes from a liquid to a gas. This change removes a large amount of heat from the surrounding space. In addition the Mandevilla's leaves block a large amount of the Sun's rays to shade you.
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See Nick Cloyd's (2017) graduate thesis conducted at the University of Maryland in the Department of Environmental Science & Technology a strategic element of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.