Green Spaces - Research Paper Example

Methodology This research report aims to evaluate how Urban ‘Green’ spaces may contribute to Global climate change. The nature of the study is qualitative as it involves the collection of extensive narrative data and quantitative as it involves the calculations of CO2 released. The reason for selecting extensive narrative data was to gain insight into the topic under discussion. Being a qualitative research, this research study has used two qualitative research approaches including the historical research and qualitative research approach (case study). On the other hand, in the quantitative analysis, descriptive research approach has been used. The historical research approach has been used by collecting past information related to the impacts of urban green spaces on climate change. The qualitative research approach has been used by studying the current events related to the impact of urban green spaces on climate change. Extensive and narrative data has been collected over an extended period of time in a naturalistic setting of Adelaide botanical garden. In addition, numerical data for emissions of carbon dioxide from mowing machine used in Adelaide botanical garden has been also collected. The reason for selecting this research design and methodology was the nature of the topic under investigation. Since the aim of report was to determine the impact on urban green spaces on global climate change, therefore, it was important to study the impact in the past years, because of which literature review was designed. Secondly, to study the current impact of an urban green space narrative data over the extended period was required; therefore, case study was the best option to conduct an in-depth study. Moreover, case study of Adelaide botanical garden has provided a way through which the findings drawn from literature review could be evaluated in a natural setting. In a similar research study, Townsend-Small and colleague Claudia Czimczik used a similar methodology and analysed grass in four parks near Irvine *(University of California). Conner in his research on climate change and urban spaces also used literature review methodology to investigate the impact (Conner, 2007). In short, this research methodology has been also used by other researchers to investigate similar topic. Research Questions The research questions that have been investigated this research study are as follows: 1. How do urban green spaces relate to climate change? 2. Do all kinds of urban ‘green’ parks contribute to global warming or only some? 3. What strategies and policies need to be adopted to overcome this issue and for better planned cities? The research questions also show the appropriateness of the selected methodology. To investigate first question and to relate urban green spaces to climate change, historical analysis was required. To investigate second question, a thorough and non specific country research was required. Moreover, to learn the extent to which one urban green space can contribute towards climate change, a specific example of a park was required. To investigate third question, the identification of issues and their related recommendations were important. Therefore, research questions under investigation also support the methodology and research design selected for this research study. Instrumentation To instruments were used to collect the data in this research study including literature review and an interview with technical officer of botanical garden. The literature review has provided the secondary data to evaluate the role of urban ‘green’ spaces in climate change, to understand the characteristics of urban green spaces which have directly or directly contribute to climate change and to analyse the impact of elements involved in lawn maintenance on climate change. The second instrument used in this research was the case study analysis to comprehend the nature of urban green spaces and their impact on climate change. The primary data for this research study has been collected through the interview conducted in Adelaide botanical garden. Moreover, a foot survey or walk-over survey has been also conducted for archaeological reconnaissance. A detailed description of the two instruments used in this study is as follows. Data Collection An informal interview of technical officer of botanical garden has been conducted to get information about the urban park. The botanical garden that has been visited and selected to conduct the case study, the second instrument of this research study, was Adelaide botanical garden. Foot survey has been also conducted to obtain the data for the previous activities related to fertilisers and chemicals. To collect the primary data through interview, an informal discussion session was conducted with technical officer and a questionnaire was got filled from him. First, the questions related to size and coverage of Adelaide botanical garden, were asked. Second, questions about turf grass and the kind of fertilisers used in Adelaide botanical garden were asked. Finally, questions related to irrigation facilities, season of turf grass and kind of sprinklers used were asked. The idea was to collect in-depth information about Adelaide botanical garden. Variables The indicators of climate change identified in this research include rise in sea level, increase in temperature, migration of animals, extinction of animals, impact on flora and fauna, energy consumption in urban cities and emission of carbon dioxide from mowing machine. To study the impact of urban parks on these climatic change different types of grasses such turf-grass, plants shrubs etc were studied in detail. For example, types of cold season and warm season grasses were selected and their characteristics such as climate requirements, soil type, fertiliser requirement and disease issues were highlighted. While studying the impact of urban green space in a natural setting, the independent variables including the area of botanical garden, percentage of grass planted, nature or fertiliser used, kind of mower used, amount of pesticides used and season of plantation were considered. As the nature of the data was narrative and mostly non numerical, therefore, they have been studied all together in a natural setting. Data Analysis This research study is of qualitative nature and the information collected through literature review and interview has been also analysed through critically evaluating the information. The information collected through literature review was used to analyse the carbon cycle in green spaces, elements in lawn maintenance, types of green grasses, characteristics of urban parks and irrigation facilities. The information analysed in this section incorporate theoretical concepts. The information collected through interview was presented in case study form and it has been critically analysed to reach on conclusions. Furthermore, calculations have been made on data collected for carbon dioxide emission. Finally, based on the data analysis, the recommendations have been given which will contribute to the reduction of climate change because of the affects caused by urban green spaces. Therefore, the combination of secondary research and case study methodology makes this research study actually worthwhile to study the impact of urban green spaces on global climate change. Bibliography Conner, R. (2007). Climate Change and Urban Green Spaces. [Online] Available at: http://www.cchangeproject.org/.../CC%20&%20urban%20green%20spaces.doc [Accessed on 19 June 2010] University of California. (n.d.). Urban green spaces may create global warming. [Online] Available at: http://www.physorg.com/news183129874.html [Accessed on 19 June 2010] Read More