The Heat Island Effect of Synthetic Sports Fields

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, synthetic turf fields are commonplace in many U.S. communities. According to the Synthetic Turf Council, there are “between 12,000 and 13,000 synthetic turf sports fields in the U.S., including Ridgewood with approximately 1,200–1,500 new installations each year. If you’ve ever attended any game played on one of these fields on a hot, sunny day, you’ve probably seen the shimmer of heat rising from the surface or heard players complain about feeling the heat through their shoes.

Debate continues over the health impacts from playing on synthetic turf fields, but the high surface-level temperatures recorded on these fields compared to natural turf have been well-documented. Since grass leaves release water vapor (or transpire) and the evaporation of that water vapor leads to cooling, grass fields rarely get above 100° F. Turf fields, in comparison, regularly rise well above 100° F. Penn State University’s Center for Sports Surface Research conducted studies comparing surface temperatures of synthetic turfs composed of various fiber and infill colors/materials and found that the maximum surface temperatures during hot, sunny conditions averaged from 140° F to 170° F.

Another study conducted at Brigham Young University found that “The surface temperature of the synthetic turf was 37° F higher than asphalt and 86.5° F hotter than natural turf.” And, as neuroscientist Kathleen Michels points out: “Any temperature over 120° F can cause skin burns with skin contact in two seconds.”

Synthetic sports fields, particularly those made of artificial turf, can contribute to the heat island effect. The heat island effect refers to the phenomenon in which urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to the concentration of human activity and infrastructure.

Artificial turf can absorb and retain heat, leading to higher surface temperatures on the field. Additionally, synthetic turf fields are often surrounded by hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt, which also absorb and retain heat. As a result, the area around synthetic sports fields can become significantly hotter than the surrounding environment, contributing to the heat island effect.

To mitigate the heat island effect caused by synthetic sports fields, some measures can be taken, such as using lighter-colored turf materials, installing shade structures or trees around the field, or incorporating green infrastructure such as bioswales or rain gardens to absorb excess heat and reduce runoff. Proper irrigation and drainage can also help to cool the field and prevent heat buildup.

Overall, it is important to consider the potential impacts of synthetic sports fields on the local environment and take steps to mitigate any negative effects.

Synthetic turf fields are advantageous for their all-weather utility, zero recovery time under heavy use and low (not “no”) maintenance, and product manufacturers have been working to find alternative infill materials that would generate lower surface-level temperatures.  More and more parents are becoming increasingly concerned about their children playing on these fields on hot days. So, what can be done to try to lower the temperature for individuals, particularly children, who, the Penn State Center for Sports Surface Research points out, “are less able to adapt to changes in temperature”?