The Impact of Vegetation Canopy on the Outdoor Thermal Environment in Cold Winter and Spring

Hankai Chen, Rui Liu () and Yu Zhang
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Hankai Chen: School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
Rui Liu: School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
Yu Zhang: School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: The current study investigated the impact of vegetation canopy on the outdoor thermal environment in cold winter and spring, a less-explored aspect of its climate effects. Firstly, we conducted on-site observations of meteorology parameters on a campus in a hot summer and cold winter region. Then the ENVI-met microclimate simulation model was utilized to simulate the air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and solar radiation of typical winter and spring days. Furthermore, the PET index was calculated to evaluate the thermal conditions. Our findings revealed that during the daytime, the vegetation canopy raised air temperature and relative humidity, reduced wind speed, and mitigated solar radiation. Solar radiation emerged as the primary factor affecting thermal comfort in the cold winter and spring. The presence of deciduous broad-leaved vegetation notably reduced cold discomfort and improved thermal comfort in the cold winter and spring. Finally, we propose replacing evergreen broad-leaved vegetation with deciduous broad-leaved vegetation in hot summer and cold winter regions to ensure year-round thermal comfort, especially in the cold winter and spring.

Keywords: microclimate simulation; outdoor thermal environment; thermal comfort in winter; vegetation canopy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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