ARBORIZAÇÃO EM QUINTAIS RESIDENCIAIS URBANOS NO SEMIÁRIDO NORDESTINO: ESTUDO DE CASO NA CIDADE DE MOSSORÓ/RN

Abstract

Urban interferences such as those that occurred in the municipality of Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), can cause microclimatic particularities, such as: high temperatures, low moisture content and human thermal discomfort. In addition to urban interference, the climatic characteristics of the Semiarid Region of Nordestina favor thermal discomfort. Considering the human thermal comfort an essential factor for residences, a climatic study was proposed in urban residential backyards, located in pintos, Mossoró/RN, with the purpose of understanding the influence that trees can exert on the microclimate of these backyards and on thermal comfort. Data on air temperature and relative humidity were collected during 24hrs of three days of the hottest and driest climatic period and 24hrs of three days of hot and rainy by thermohygrometer devices, in two backyards, one without trees (P1) and one wooded (P2). The data were applied to the Heat Index (CI). The trees in the P2 yard softened temperatures by up to 4.5°C at 1pm on November 5 and 3.8°C also at 1pm on April 13. And they raised the moisture levels by 9% at 13hrs and 16hrs on November 5 and by 6.5% at 13:00 on April 13, compared to backyard P1, thus promoting better thermal sensations of CI. It is evident the influence that the afforestation of the P2 yard exerts on the microclimate of this yard, especially in the hottest and driest climatic period and in the most critical time intervals of the day.