The effects of urban microclimate on outdoor thermal sensation and neutral temperature in hot-summer and cold-winter climate

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of four important microclimate parameters on outdoor thermal sensation and neutral temperature. A long term (almost 2 years) field investigation was conducted at six typical public spaces in Changsha China, with hot-summer and cold-winter climate. During a single investigation of one day (from 9:00 to 18:00), outdoor air temperature, air humidity, global temperature and wind speed were continuously measured at one measuring point. People visiting the public spaces (near the measuring site) were randomly invited to fill out a questionnaire describing their feelings of thermal comfort and other important psychological factors. Based on the field data (7851 samples), relationship between people’s outdoor thermal sensation and the microclimate parameters were quantified. Further, the effect of the microclimate parameters on outdoor thermal sensation and neutral temperatures was analyzed. The results revealed that outdoor microclimate parameters, especially outdoor air temperature, play important roles on outdoor thermal sensation when people stay outdoors. The variation in outdoor microclimate parameters led to the biggest change of outdoor neutral temperature in winter. Seasonal and regional differences in outdoor neutral temperature were found, which reflects different thermal comfort requirements under distinct outdoor microclimate conditions.