Page - 189 - in Mobile Culture Studies - The Journal, Volume 3/2017

Studies based on adaptive thermal comfort approach put forward the influence of short-term climatic experience on long-term experience regarding climate. Transient thermal states can foster pedestrian’s ability to thermally adapt, awaken the senses, and provide thermal pleasure or delight. It is commonly well-accepted that the behavioral adaptation enables people to restore their thermal comfort status. However, few studies have addressed the issue of behavioral regu- lation in regard to transient thermal states in urban public space during excessive summertime heat conditions. The present study retains behavioral adaptations observed in the city of Madrid in the summer of 2016 as an indicator of appreciation and of thermal feel of the pedestrians encoun- tering an “Urban Cool Island”. The cold inducing structure is consisted of awnings and misters positioned in front of the bars/restaurants providing shade and humidity to one part of the sidewalk. The methodology of direct observation in situ involved simultaneous environmental and human monitoring. Climatic fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and solar radiation are regularly measured by a portable thermometer-hygrometer in the sunlit/dry and shaded/ humid areas. Behavioral changes in regard to climatic ambiance during pedestrian’s walking activity are monitored through unobtrusive observation and video recording. The fieldwork was carried out during seven days in the month of August in 2016, mainly in the afternoon, which is the period characterized by the excessive summertime heat and consequently by the climate regulating structure put in place by the staff of the bars/restaurants. Thermal comfort is here addressed on a very small scale which is denominated “pico” and which refers to the space occupied by the body and its immediate surroundings over a short span of several minutes or seconds. On the one hand, the passers-by observed in situ mani- fested preference for short-term exposures to shaded and humid environment. This preference is revealed by the passage of a single cloud of mist and by a short exposure of only a few seconds, despite the neighboring area being continuously moistened and shaded, accessible and unoccu- pied at the time of passage. This behavior can be explained by the physiologic phenomenon of “temporal alliesthesia”, or the pleasure provided by transient thermal states enabling people to restore their thermal comfort status. On the other hand, the passers-by manifested preference Mobile Culture Studies. The Journal, Vol. 3 2017, 189-192 Peer reviewed article Open Access: content is licensed under CC BY 3.0 Meeting Urban Climate Events Extended abstract Marina Popovic