The thermoregulatory characteristics of trees can be used effectively when there is knowledge available about the thermal comfort provided by an individual isolated tree in its radius of influence. Several thermal comfort indices have been used, but only a few of them are actually adapted to the Brazilian reality. The aim of this study is to compare results using three thermal comfort indices in outdoor environments - the Tridimensional Bioclimatic Chart, and the PET and PMV indices to evaluate the performance of three different species in the urban microclimate: Ipê-Amarelo, Jambolão and Mangueira. The research was divided into three stages: (a) selection of appropriate measurement sites and individual trees; (b) collection of environmental parameters: solar radiation, air and globe temperatures, relative humidity and wind speed; (c) comparison of the results obtained for the three indices through the parameter Comfort Hours Unit. The results show that the thermal comfort provided by species throughout the year regardless of the thermal comfort index used in the analysis depends on the canopy architecture. Ipê-amarelo is the species that provides the best thermal comfort sensation, while perennial species like Jambolão and Mangueira influence the thermal sensation in the near surroundings more strongly in summer than in winter, with more comfortable conditions in the shadow of the tree canopy.
Thermal comfort; Urban forestry; Vegetation and climate
