Utilizing Urban Microclimate Data in Education and Research

In the TAPSI project (Localised climate service for Finland, https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/tapsi), new services are being developed to deliver more regionally specific climate information and climate risk indicators, aiming to support climate change adaptation and awareness across Finland.

As part of the TAPSI project, urban measurement networks are being planned and established in four Finnish cities: Tampere, Helsinki, Rovaniemi, and Oulu. Since November 2024, air temperature and relative humidity have been continuously measured at 30 monitoring stations across Helsinki (area ~200 km²), with sensors positioned at a height of 3 meters. These measurements provide an opportunity to explore urban microclimates, enabling students and researchers to investigate the interactions between local urban structures and atmospheric conditions. Combined with other existing measurements, the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) methods, and the integration of environmental and regional datasets, these data enable more precise analyses. Such analyses can, for instance, be used to provide residential area-specific warnings about the dangers of heatwaves.

During spring 2025, within the Carbon Busters project (https://www.metropolia.fi/fi/tutkimus-kehitys-ja-innovaatiot/hankkeet/carbon-busters), this urban climate dataset of Helsinki is going to be utilized to educate students of the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences on the specifics of urban climatology. The dataset facilitates two key areas of inquiry. First, it enables the analysis of spatial temperature variations between densely built-up areas and greener, park-like regions. By correlating these observations with prevailing synoptic weather conditions, students can gain insights into the factors driving regional temperature differences. This includes making the environmental impacts on urban temperature visible, particularly highlighting the roles of green spaces and water bodies in influencing local temperatures and raising awareness of their benefits. Second, we employ kriging interpolation techniques to generate high-resolution (100 m x 100 m) gridded temperature maps from the station measurements. This approach not only enhances our understanding of spatial temperature distribution but also serves as a valuable tool for visualizing and communicating urban climate dynamics to diverse audiences.

Through our efforts, we aim to bridge the gap between scientific data and educational practice, empowering students to engage with authentic datasets and fostering critical thinking about urban climate issues. 

This work is part of the following projects: Carbon Busters funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council (project number R-00246), TAPSI (Localised climate service for Finland) funded by LocalTapiola (https://www.lahitapiola.fi/en/), and ACCC (Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center, Flagship Grant No. 337552) funded by the Research Council of Finland.