Modeling the relationship between public green spaces and thermal comfort: The case of Adana city

This research aims to determine suitable geometric and environmental characteristics in the urban texture affecting green spaces' thermal comfort and develop suggestions for green spaces' optimized thermal conditions in hot-humid Adana City. The Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), analyzed by the ENVI-met microclimate model, was used to classify green spaces' thermal comfort. The study was carried out in five stages: a) determining the urban green spaces in Adana and classifying them in terms of area size, shape, and orientation characteristics; b) determining Local Climate Zone (LCZ), which is the climate-based classification of the urban texture; c) determining the optimum green spaces characteristics through ANOVA Tukey-HSD test to compare statistical relationship for the PET values of the green spaces in line with first two stages; d) modeling of three plant canopy scenarios (100% grass, 50% tree canopy, 100% tree canopy) using ENVI-met and statistically comparing PET changes to improve the thermal comfort of green spaces; e) according to findings, improving suggestions for green spaces' thermal comfort, determining the optimum tree canopy ratio, and determining the effects of green spaces on urban microclimate. The ANOVA-Tukey HSD test was used to show which characteristics caused the statistical difference by dual comparison. The findings that affected planning and design decisions are as follows: The increase of area size and plant canopy rate positively affects the thermal comfort of green spaces and urban climate. The minimum area size required for a green area with thermal comfort is 15.000-20.000 m2. Generally, rectangular is the most suitable shape, NW-SE is the most suitable green spaces orientation. In order to benefit from the cooling effect of the wind in a green space and urban tissue, the maximum tree closure ratio should be 70-80%.