Auditory comfort and noise perception under thermal and visual conditions in urban parks

This study investigates auditory comfort in outdoor urban environments by examining the combined influence of visual and thermal factors. Field research was conducted in two major urban parks in Adana, Turkey, representing the Mediterranean climate, where simultaneous environmental measurements and surveys were performed during the autumn season. The collected data included air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, mean radiant temperature, sound pressure level, and both horizontal and vertical illuminance. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that sound pressure level was the most influential parameter, showing a strong negative association with auditory comfort, while higher vertical illuminance slightly decreased comfort levels. Thermal variables exhibited indirect effects on noise perception rather than on comfort itself. Participants expressed a strong preference for natural sounds such as birdsong and flowing water, while human and mechanical sounds were generally disliked. The findings highlight that auditory comfort is a multisensory phenomenon shaped by both acoustic and contextual environmental qualities.