Seasonal outdoor thermal comfort and neutral PET thresholds in a severe cold Dwa climate city of Shenyang China

Abstract

Abstract While outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) research in cold climate cities is expanding, comprehensive studies quantifying the seasonal impacts of urban morphology remain limited. This study fills a critical gap by establishing season-specific neutral Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) thresholds in Shenyang (Dwa climate, Northeast China) through 1,009 paired microclimate measurements and subjective surveys. Results show markedly lower thermal neutral points—12.5 °C in winter and 22.5 °C in summer—reflecting distinct cold-adaptive behaviors. This study provides empirical evidence quantifying the seasonal influences of urban morphology on OTC in a severe cold zone. The proposed Sky View Factor (SVF)-sensitive comfort framework advances climate-responsive design, providing empirical thresholds and parametric tools for cold-region planning. Findings contribute new evidence supporting seasonal adaptation theory and empirically offer a transferable methodology for similar high-latitude cities globally.