Climate and Urban Morphology in the City of Barcelona: The Role of Vegetation

Urban morphology defines many characteristics of a city, such as its urban quality, density, and free spaces layout with its vegetation, microclimate, and thermal comfort. All these variables have in common the element of urban space, which is where users develop themselves, making it an element of value. As the city evolves, environmental conditions of the area also change. One example is the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The UHI is defined as the accumulation of heat produced by the urban surfaces emitted to the environment, affecting the urban structure and the thermal comfort of users. As discomfort increases, urban public spaces lose their appeal and may be turned into deserted areas. One of the reasons is the lack of vegetation, particularly arboreal species, which protect these spaces from the solar incidence. In this regard, the questions arise as to how urban morphology affects the incidence of solar radiation in the urban canyon, and how vegetation and its characteristics influence climatic comfort. To develop these concepts, three introductory sections are addressed: the city of Barcelona, Barcelona climate, and urban morphology. Where the main variables are solar radiation, urban canyon, orientation, and the role that vegetation plays as a protection