Impact of tree canopy cover on the local thermal environments at the Angkor temples of Cambodia.

The Angkor monuments in Cambodia were built between the 9th and 14th centuries CE and were subsequently buried in the jungle. Conservation and restoration projects that began in the early 20th century cut down the surrounding trees, which created a high-temperature environment that may affect the weathering of the stone materials. The temples of Angkor Wat, Banteay Kdei, and Ta Prohm were selected for study, and the measured temperature distributions were compared to evaluate the effects of the tree canopy cover on the thermal environment. Land cover analysis was performed by using remote sensing imagery. Angkor Wat had the least tree canopy cover among the temples. It also had a much higher surface temperature than the other temples in both the dry and rainy seasons. The ambient temperature measurements indicated that the temples were 1-5 °C warmer at night than the surrounding forest. The tree canopy cover was found to have a strong influence on the thermal environment of the temples, whose stone materials have a higher volumetric heat capacity than trees. The increased temperature and humid tropical environment are likely to accelerate the physical weathering of the stone.