Influence of Green Spaces on Outdoors Thermal Comfort—Structured Experiment in a Mediterranean Climate

• Main Authors: Artur Gonçalves, António Castro Ribeiro, Filipe Maia, Luís Nunes, Manuel Feliciano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-01-01
• Series: Climate
• Subjects: thermal comfort; outdoor spaces; green spaces; trees; multinomial logistic regression
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/7/2/20

As a growing part of the global population lives in cities, green spaces are an essential asset for improving quality of life. This study aims to address the role of green spaces in providing favorable thermal comfort conditions for the use of outdoor spaces. The research methodology consisted of a structured experiment where a defined set of individuals from different age groups was exposed to differentiated microclimate conditions. Four nearby locations were considered, ranging from a stone-paved surface without shade to high tree canopy coverage over grass. This experiment took place in three different days in summer and early autumn conditions, with a total of 432 questionnaires. Results show a wide range of thermal sensations found during this experiment, while more favorable thermal sensations were found in shaded locations. To investigate the role of prevailing meteorological and personal conditions on thermal sensations, multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied. Results show the influence of air temperature, global radiation, wind speed, and interviewees’ gender. As meteorological variables were influenced by the diverse contexts found within a close distance inside the studied green space, results from this structured experiment suggest the need for micrometeorological diversity in the local context as a means to promote greater adaptive opportunities for green spaces users.