Abstract
The combined effects of global warming and increasing urban heat islands (UHIs) on air temperature and heat stress in cities are notable physical and mental health implications for citizens. With research having shown the effective role of urban green spaces in decreasing urban heat, this study investigated the cooling effect of a large urban park on thermal comfort outside the park area, from psychological and physiological perspectives. The studied park is located in the center of Madrid and adjacent to UHI. The study was performed by conducting field measurements and a survey with questionnaires. The measurements made on six summer days (with two-week intervals) showed that the park’s cooling effect could decrease the air temperature by 2.4–2.8 °C right up to the edge of the heat island (600 m), and decrease the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) by about 3.9 °C. By decreasing air temperature and PET, this park was also shown to increase the perceived thermal comfort (PTC) of the citizens from the psychological perspective in the defined area of effect. This perceived thermal comfort was found to have a significant inverse relationship with PET (P-value <0.05). The examination of cognitive maps drawn by citizens showed that out of the 145 respondents, 68.3% marked the park as the area that they perceive as having the greatest thermal comfort, and prefer as the place to spend time enjoying thermal comfort, irrespective of its distance from their location.
Highlights
Rising air temperatures and heat stress in cities are increasingly important issues for urban management (IPCC, 2014), especially.Climate Risk Management 30 (2020) 100245 considering that with growing urbanization in upcoming decades, the likely increased incidence of such problems will affect welfare and thermal comfort of citizens (Brown et al, 2015; Haines et al, 2006; Seto et al, 2011)
The temperature data obtained from the AEMET station in Retiro Park (AEMET, 2018) showed that on June 22, July 10 & 24, August 10 & 24, and September 10, air temperatures at Nodes A and B were within the range of average and maximum tem peratures within the park, but at Node C (Anton Martín) this was only true on July 10 and July 24
Large urban parks play a major role in providing citizens with thermal comfort from both physiological and psychological perspective, especially in areas with hot summers
Summary
Rising air temperatures and heat stress in cities are increasingly important issues for urban management (IPCC, 2014), especially (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Climate Risk Management 30 (2020) 100245 considering that with growing urbanization in upcoming decades, the likely increased incidence of such problems will affect welfare and thermal comfort of citizens (Brown et al, 2015; Haines et al, 2006; Seto et al, 2011). Rising urban heat and the increase in the number and size of urban heat islands (UHIs) directly affect the health of citizens (Patz et al, 2005; McMichael et al, 2006; Błazejczyk et al, 2018; Jedlovec et al, 2017). Studies have shown that some aggressive behaviors are associated with temperature increase (Anderson, 2001). Heat waves have been associated with psychological and behavioral disorders (Hansen et al, 2008)
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