Factors influencing outdoor thermal comfort in a coastal park during the transition seasons in cold regions of China

Abstract

Coastal outdoor spaces serve as public venues where individuals engage in water-related activities, admire scenic views, embark on tourist excursions, and partake in social gatherings. Enhancing thermal comfort is a crucial prerequisite for increasing the attractiveness of these spaces. This study investigated the outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) in a coastal park called Xinghai Park located in a cold region of China over a period of five days during the spring and autumn seasons. The universal thermal climate index (UTCI) was employed to establish the thermal benchmark. Through on-site measurements and questionnaire surveys, both single-factor and multi-factor analyses were conducted to assess the microclimate and thermal perception in four representative coastal spaces, thereby identifying the thermal benchmark and factors influencing thermal perception in the Coastal Park. The findings indicated that: (1) during the transition seasons, the neutral UTCI (NUTCI) of the Coastal Park was 15.3 °C, with neutral UTCI range (NUTCIR) ranging from 9.3 °C to 21.4 °C, and there were significant variations in the thermal benchmarks among different types of spaces; (2) the primary factors influencing thermal perception during the transition seasons in the Coastal Park were physical factors (Ta, Tg, RH, Va, G), while individual, social, and psychological factors also exerted varying degrees of influence on respondents' thermal perception; (3) there were substantial spatial differences in the factors influencing respondents' thermal perception. The findings of this study provide valuable references for determining thermal environmental design strategies for transitional season coastal outdoor recreational spaces and enhancing the quality of urban life.