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Effect of Acclimatization and Thermal History on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in

Hot-Humid Area of China

Chapter · March 2020

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-9520-8_90

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 Effect of Acclimatization and Thermal History
on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Hot-Humid
Area of China
（ ）
Cho Kwong Charlie Lam1  , Shuhang Cui2, Jiarui Liu2, Xiangrui
Kong2, Jian Hang1
1
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Guangdong Province Key
Laboratory for Climate Change and Natural Disaster Studies, Sun Yat-
sen University, Guangzhou, China 510275
2
School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai,
China 519082
linzug@mail.sysu.edu.cn, http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9903-8089

Abstract. Past indoor studies show that people’s thermal comfort differ
between different climate zones in China. However, whether this
phenomenon also applies to outdoor thermal comfort is less understood,
which is the focus of this study. We conducted meteorological
measurements to calculate the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI)
and compared it with thermal comfort survey in Guangzhou and Zhuhai
(n = 4283) in September 2018. When UTCI was 28 – 38 °C (moderate to
strong heat stress), the mean thermal sensation vote of local Guangdong
respondents was significantly lower than respondents from the cold zone
and hot summer, cold winter zone, indicating the influence of
acclimatization. The same results apply to respondents who have been
indoor with air-conditioning, but not for those who have been in outdoor,
exposed environment. Outdoor residency time and thermal expectation
in transient environment could affect the difference in thermal perception
between Chinese people from various climate zones.

Keywords: Thermal comfort; Thermal history; Acclimatization;

Climate zone; UTCI.

1 Introduction

People’s sensitivity to changes in thermal indices depend on their thermal history and
acclimatization. For the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), past studies showed
that people from various climate zones had different range of neutral thermal sensation
[1]. This result demonstrated the need to calibrate the UTCI scale for local use [1]. Luo
et al. [2] also showed that migrants from Southern China would take at least a year to
acclimatize to the climate in Northern China. In transient thermal environment, short-
term thermal history could also affect the differences in thermal perception between
people from different climate zones [3].
Different climate zone classifications could affect the interpretation of thermal
comfort survey results. The Köppen climate classification is used globally and has been
applied in China [4]. China has a complicated topography ranging from hilly regions to
 2

flat plains and these diversities lead to many distinct climate zones. This study adopts
the building climate demarcation standard [5]. This standard is commonly used for
classifying climate zones in China, mainly based on the average temperatures during
the hottest and coldest months of the year. The purpose of this study is to examine the
differences in thermal perception of people from different climate zones during summer
in hot-humid area of China. This study aims to answer the following two research
questions. Firstly, over similar ranges of the UTCI, how does the thermal perception of
local Guangdong residents differ from respondents from other provinces in China?
Secondly, over similar ranges of the UTCI, how does short-term thermal history affect
the thermal perception of respondents coming from different climate zones in China?

2 Methods
Guangzhou and Zhuhai have a hot-humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate
classification Cwa). Summer lasts from May to September, with high temperature and
humidity, which are influenced by monsoon. The annual mean air temperature is 22 °C
and 22.5 °C for Guangzhou and Zhuhai, respectively. From 1971 to 2000, the annual
average maximum temperature in September is 31.5 °C and 30.6 °C for Guangzhou
and Zhuhai, respectively [6]. Relative humidity is usually over 80% from May to
September in Guangzhou and Zhuhai [6].

2.1 Climate zones in China

Five climate zones have been classified to address building issues in different weather
scenarios in China. These climate zones are consisted of severe cold zone, cold zone,
hot summer and cold winter zone, hot summer and warm winter zone and temperate
zone [5], as shown in Fig. 1. This study focused on survey respondents coming from
the cold zone (zone II), hot summer, cold winter zone (zone III) and hot summer, warm
winter zone (zone IV), representing Guangdong residents in this study. Zone II has an
average January temperature of -10 – 0 °C and average July temperature of 18 – 28 °C.
The average January and July temperature of Zone III are 0 – 10 °C and 25 – 30 °C,
respectively. Our study sites are in zone IV, which has an average January temperature
of >10 °C and average July temperature of 25 – 29 °C.

2.2 Meteorological measurement

Meteorological measurement and thermal comfort surveys were conducted in three
university campuses in Guangzhou (23°05’N 113°17’E), Panyu (23°03’N 113°23’E)
and Zhuhai (22°21’N 113°34’E) (Fig. 2). Panyu is a district of Guangzhou, whereas
Zhuhai is a coastal city near the South China Sea. Rainwise Portlog weather stations
were used in Guangzhou and Zhuhai, whereas Davis Vantage Pro 2 weather stations
were used in Panyu (Figure 2). The weather stations measured air temperature, relative
humidity and wind speed. Globe temperature was measured by a 150 mm black globe
thermometer. We calibrated these two types of weather stations in both indoor and
outdoor settings, to ensure that there were no significant differences in different
meteorological variables.
 3

Fig. 1. Five climate zones in China

Fig. 2. Meteorological measurement and survey sites in a) Guangzhou, b) Panyu and c)

Zhuhai (Map World satellite image, 2018). Weather stations and black globe
thermometer used in our survey, showing d) Rainwise Portlog, which was used in
Guangzhou and Zhuhai and e) Davis Vantage Pro 2, which was used in Panyu.

2.3 Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) calculation

Black globe temperature was measured in our study sites. We used equation 1 to
calculate the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) [7].

ℎ𝑐𝑔 1/4
𝑇𝑚𝑟𝑡 = [(𝑇𝑔 + 273.15)4 + × (𝑇𝑔 − 𝑇𝑎 )] − 273.15 (1)
𝜀 𝐷0.4

where Tg is the globe temperature (°C); Ta is the air temperature (°C); v is the wind
speed (m/s); hcg is the globe’s mean convective coefficient (1.1 × 108v0.6); D is the globe
diameter (m), equal to 0.15 m; and ε is the globe emissivity (0.95 for black globe).
 4

Based on weather station data on campus, we calculated the UTCI using RayMan [8].
To calculate the UTCI, we input air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed at 10m,
as well as Tmrt, which was derived from the globe temperature. We used equation 2 to
convert our 1.5 m wind speed (v) to 10 m above ground, which was required for
calculating UTCI [9].

10
log(0.01)
v10m =vxm × x (2)
log(0.01)

where x is the height of the weather station (i.e. 1.5 m in our study).

2.4 Thermal comfort survey and statistical analysis

In Guangzhou, Panyu and Zhuhai, we conducted thermal comfort surveys on university
campuses during summer (n = 4283, 3 – 16 September 2018). We focused on the survey
questions regarding people’s demographic background, their thermal sensation vote
and exposure 15 minutes prior to the survey. T-tests and ANOVA were conducted to
compare the differences in mean thermal sensation vote (MTSV) between Guangdong
residents (zone IV) and respondents from other provinces in China (zone II and III). In
our study, zone IV respondents represented the acclimatized group. Overseas
respondents (n = 37) were excluded from our analysis. T-tests and ANOVA were also
used to compare the difference in thermal perception between respondents who have
been indoor (with and without air-conditioning) and those who have been outdoor
(exposed and shaded environment), as well as different long-term thermal history. In
conducting our regression analysis, we weighted the MTSV with the number of cases
per UTCI bin as suggested by Kántor et al. [10], thereby retained the original case
number.

3 Results
Long-term acclimatization could influence outdoor thermal comfort of people from
various climate zones. When UTCI was 28 °C – 38 °C (moderate to strong heat stress),
the MTSV of zone IV respondents (1.38±1.40, n = 1629) was significantly lower than
zone II (1.60±1.26, n = 419) and zone III respondents (1.55±1.36, n = 814), F (2, 2859)
= 6.7, p = 0.001 (Fig. 3). Once UTCI was above 41 °C, the MTSV of zone IV
respondents (2.41±1.05, n = 368) was higher than zone II (2.23±1.30, n = 92) and zone
III respondents (2.25±1.17, n = 179), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.165).
Compared with Guangdong residents, respondents who have arrived Guangdong for
less than one year (< 1-year group) might be unacclimatized to the hot-humid summer
in Guangdong, resulting in different thermal perception in lower UTCI ranges. During
the survey period, 58.2% and 63.2% of the zone II (n = 308) and III respondents (n =
636) have been in Guangzhou/Zhuhai for more than one year (> 1-year group)
respectively. For zone III respondents, there was no significant difference in MTSV
between the < 1-year group (1.78±1.32, n = 370) and > 1-year group (1.67±1.35, n =
636), t (1004) = 1.22, p = 0.223. For zone II respondents, the MTSV of > 1-year group
 5

(1.83±1.23, n = 308) was significantly higher than the < 1-year group (1.61±1.32, n =
221), t (527) = -1.69, p = 0.049, which might seem counter-intuitive. However, this
result might be due to more zone II respondents in the >1-year group have spent time
indoor with air-conditioning, who could experience an overshoot of thermal sensation
under a step-change in temperature.

Fig. 3. Weighted mean thermal sensation votes (MTSV) reported in Guangzhou and
Zhuhai, reported by Chinese respondents coming from different climate zones in China,
showing comparison between a) zone II (n = 562) and zone IV (include Guangdong
residents, n = 2105); b) between zone III (n = 1052) and zone IV. Larger bubbles mean
larger sample size.

The differences in thermal perception between zone II, III and IV respondents
differ between various short-term thermal history. The slope of regression line shows
people’s sensitivity to changes of UTCI (i.e. thermal sensitivity). When respondents
have been in outdoor, exposed environment, the thermal sensitivity of respondents from
zone II, III and IV was similar (Fig. 4a). However, zone III respondents were less
sensitive to changes in UTCI than zone II and IV respondents when they have been in
outdoor, shaded environment (Fig. 4b) or indoor environment without air-conditioning
(Fig. 4d). When respondents have been in an indoor environment with air-conditioning,
zone IV respondents were more sensitive to changes in UTCI compared with other two
groups (Fig. 4c).
When UTCI was 28 °C – 38 °C and respondents have been indoor with air-
conditioning, the MTSV of zone IV respondents (1.16±1.38, n = 647) was significantly
lower than zone II (1.56±1.26, n = 168) and zone III respondents (1.40±1.40, n = 331),
F (2, 1143) = 7.3, p = 0.001. When respondents have been in outdoor, shaded
environment (UTCI: 28 °C – 36 °C), the MTSV of zone IV respondents (1.26±1.38, n
= 354) was also significantly lower than zone III respondents (1.61±1.34, n = 144), but
not zone II respondents (1.51±1.27, n = 87), F (2, 582) = 7.3, p = 0.022. No significant
difference in MTSV between these three groups was found for respondents who have
been in outdoor, exposed environment (p = 0.928). The differences in MTSV between
respondents from various building climate zones were more pronounced when they
have been in shaded or air-conditioned environment, compared with when they have
been in outdoor, exposed environment.
 6

Fig. 4. Weighted MTSV over different UTCI ranges, stratified into various short-term
thermal history: a) outdoor, exposed (zone II, n=159, zone III, n=298, zone IV, n=570);
b) outdoor, shaded (zone II, n=133, zone III, n=215, zone IV, n=530); c) indoor with
air-conditioning (zone II, n=217, zone III, n=417, zone IV, n=815); d) indoor without
air-conditioning (zone II, n=47, zone III, n=121, zone IV, n=192). Larger bubbles
indicate larger sample size.

4 Discussion
Our study demonstrates the influence of long-term acclimatization and short-term
thermal history on thermal perception. These results have implication for defining
different thermal sensation thresholds for the UTCI scale according to different climate
zones. When UTCI was 28 – 38 °C (moderate to strong heat stress), the MTSV of zone
IV respondents was significantly lower than respondents from zone II and zone III
respondents (Fig. 3). This result suggests that acclimatization could lead to lower
MTSV up to a certain threshold. Previously, Lam et al. [11] shows that residents
reported lower MTSV compared with visitors over similar UTCI ranges. After UTCI
exceeded 38 °C (very strong heat stress), there was no significant difference in MTSV
between respondents from various climate zones, although zone IV respondents
reported slightly higher MTSV over this UTCI range.
The range effect [12] states that people who are used to a narrower range of room
temperature are more sensitive to microclimatic change compared with those
accustomed to wider variations. The annual variation of outdoor temperature is smallest
in zone IV, followed by zone III and zone II [13]. Due to past thermal history, the range
effect might explain why Guangdong residents (zone IV) are more sensitive to changes
 7

in UTCI compared with respondents from other climate zones in China. Air-
conditioning use could also affect people’s thermal perception in different climate
zones. Zone IV has the highest building cooling load compared with zone II and III
[14]. Respondents from zone IV could be accustomed to spending more time in air-
conditioned environment, and potentially become more sensitive to changes in thermal
environment during summer.
Transitory exposure and thermal expectation can affect people’s thermal
sensation. Changes in external stimuli might also influence people’s expectation in
transient thermal environment. One possible explanation is thermal alliesthesia [15].
Alliesthesia means ‘a given stimulus can induce either a pleasant or an unpleasant
experience, depending on the subject’s internal state’ [15]. In our study, respondents
who have been indoor (representing steady state) experienced a step-change in thermal
environment when they were surveyed in an outdoor environment. These respondents
could experience the phenomenon of psychological lead, in which psychological
responses occur faster than physiological ones after step changes of temperature [16].
Residency time matters in outdoor thermal comfort studies [3]. Respondents
coming from indoor environment (including air-conditioning) has a short occupancy in
outdoor environment. Zone II and III respondents are possibly less acclimatized to the
climate in Guangdong province than zone IV respondents. A sudden change from an
indoor steady state to outdoor non-steady state environment might explain why zone II
and III respondents reported higher MTSV compared with zone IV respondents when
UTCI was < 38 °C (Fig. 4c). For those who have been in outdoor, exposed environment,
there was no significant difference in MTSV between respondents from zone II, III and
IV. This result shows that a 15-minute residency time in outdoor, exposed environment
could offset the difference in thermal perception between people from various climate
zones in China (Fig. 4a).

5 Conclusions
This study compared the thermal sensation of respondents from different climate zones
in China, who had various short-term thermal history. When UTCI was 28 °C –38 °C
(moderate to strong heat stress), the MTSV of local Guangdong residents (zone IV) was
lower than respondents from other climate zones in China. People’s thermal sensitivity
also differs between different climate zones in China. In particular, zone II and III
respondents were more sensitive to a transition from air-conditioned to outdoor
environment, and likely contribute to their higher MTSV compared with zone IV
respondents when UTCI was below 38 °C. In contrast, a longer residency time in
outdoor, exposed environment appears to offset the difference in thermal perception
between respondents from different climate zones in China. Acclimatization and
changes in thermal expectation in transient environment are possible explanation for
our results. These results have implication for defining different thermal sensation
thresholds for the UTCI scale according to different climate zones.

Acknowledgments. This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of

Guangdong Province (No. 2018A030310307), the National Natural Science
Foundation - Outstanding Youth Foundation (No. 41622502), the National Natural
 8

Science Foundation of China (No. 41875015, No 51811530017) as well as by STINT

(dnr CH2017-7271).

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