Effects of tree species and planting forms on the thermal comfort of campsites in hot and humid areas of China

Abstract

Camping has become a popular outdoor activity in China. However, the long and scorching summers in China's hot and humid regions pose challenges for campsites in maintaining thermal comfort. Therefore, we explored the impact of tree species and planting methods on the thermal comfort of urban campsites in hot and humid areas using the ENVI-met model to simulate the conditions of the study area. The reliability of the model was validated by comparing the simulated values of air temperature and relative humidity with field measurements. We conducted an in-depth analysis of common trees in hot and humid areas and analyzed the effects of five tree species and four tree planting forms on the microclimate of campsites in such areas, using the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) as the evaluation index of thermal comfort. The results indicated that: (1) trees with a low LAI and large crown had a stronger ability to improve outdoor thermal comfort than trees with a high LAI and small crown, and (2) among the four common tree planting forms in campsites, the patches form exhibited the strongest microclimate regulation capacity, leading to a more effective improvement in outdoor thermal comfort compared to that of the single tree, U-shaped, and surrounding planting forms. This study provides a reference for the planting design of outdoor campsites in hot and humid regions of China.