Comparisons of the Urbanization Effect on Heat Stress Changes in Guangdong during Different Periods

While rapid urbanization promotes social and economic development, it exacerbates human outdoor thermal comfort, which increases the risks to health. This paper uses four comfort indices multiple satellite observations explore effect on summer heat stress in Guangdong from 1979–2018, a coastal province of China. Two types index are used here, namely direct (Heat Index, HI; Temperature–Humidity THI; Discomfort DI) physiological (Universal Thermal Climate UTCI). We compare differences effects changes three (HI, THI, (UTCI). The results show that all indicate an overall warming trend. Of them, urban sites higher trend than rural sites, indicating significantly influenced by is consistent with surface air temperature. However, except for UTCI, this affected has become insignificant under regional vegetation greening 2004–2018 (also temperature). primarily attributed different wind speed areas: Decreasing speeds areas lead increase while instead decrease thus widening UTCI between areas. Our indices. When using index, necessary consider may bring results. considers more factors affect perception, so can better describe comfort. It also highlights importance ventilation greenness mitigating sustainable construction future cities.