Thermal–Acoustic Interaction Effects on Physiological and Psychological Measures in Urban Forests: A Laboratory Study

Abstract

The environment in which people live is a complex system influenced by multiple factors interacting with each other, and therefore, it is crucial to deeply explore the influences of various factors on environmental perception. Among the numerous factors affecting the experience of urban forests visits, the thermal–acoustic environment stands out prominently. This study focuses on urban forests located in subtropical regions, with specific research conducted in the Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China. The study explores the thermal–acoustic interaction in urban forest environments. A total of 150 participants evaluated the perception of sound, thermal sensation, and overall perception through laboratory experiments, with 36 of them having their objective physiological indicators monitored. Different levels of sound and temperature were selected for the experiments, with three levels for each type of sound. Our results show that increasing temperature enhanced the perceived loudness of sound, especially when the environment was quiet. Sound type and loudness had a significant impact on thermal sensation, but no interaction was observed with temperature. Moreover, we found that certain sounds could improve overall comfort, and the effect was most evident at moderate loudness. Temperature had a significant influence on both comfort and annoyance, with increasing temperature leading to higher annoyance. These findings provide important insights into how the interplay between sound and heat affects human perception and emotional state, providing scientific guidance for the design of more human-centered environments.