Abstract: Based on the observation data of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation from May to August 2006, the regulation effects of five types of open spaces (square, fountain, grassplot, corridor, and woodland) in Shanghai urban districts on the microclimate were analyzed, and discomfort index (DI) was introduced to evaluate the effects of these five types of open spaces on human body’s comfortable degree. The results showed that there existed definite differences in the air temperature and relative humidity among the open spaces, with the mean temperature decreased in the order of square＞grassplot＞fountain＞corridor＞woodland, and the mean relative humidity decreased in the order of woodland＞corridor＞fountain＞grassplot＞square. The area of the square, the wind speed and direction near the fountain, the grass species on the grassplot, the width and tree coverage of the corridor, and the tree coverage and canopy height of the woodland had significant correlations with the microclimate parameters of corresponding open spaces. Comparing with other three types of open spaces, woodland and corridor had better regulation effects on the microclimate via shading, decreasing air temperature, and increasing relative humidity.

Key words: priority area, ecosystem, biodiversity conservation, human interference, nature reserve