Thermo-hydric conditions and perceptions of environmental comfort in urban home gardens of Abaetetuba, Para, Brazil/Condicoes termico-hidricas e percepcoes de conforto ambiental em quintais urbanos de Abaetetuba, Para, Brasil

The vegetation present in home gardens contributes to environmental comfort and provides quality of life to populations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of vegetation on thermo-hydric conditions and perceptions of comfort in home gardens in the neighborhood of Mutirao, Abaetetuba, Para. For 24 days, temperature and humidity were monitored with the aid of five Hobo[R] sensors installed in home gardens in areas with and without vegetation. The Shapiro-Wilk and Tukey's (5%) tests were applied and an index of temperature and humidity (ITU) was calculated. For the ITU, based on the prognostics of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, two scenarios were established and the results were compared with the perceptions and environmental comfort and well being of the residents of the home gardens. Maximum (33.8[degrees]C) and minimum (23.3[degrees]C) temperatures recorded in environments without vegetation confirmed the effect of energy loss to the atmosphere in open spaces. For relative humidity of the air, the results were statistically different, with exception of Q3 (85.6%) and Q5 (85.4%). In the areas with significant vegetation cover (Q1, Q2 and Q4), higher humidity values were observed (88.9%, 90.0% and 91.8%, respectively). Although the ITU data showed levels of discomfort in the home gardens, for the residents these spaces represent the places of greatest environmental comfort. Residents should focus on the maintenance and conservation of their urban home gardens to mitigate the effects of heat islands of pavement-tree interfaces.