Cold City Microclimates: Enhancing Understanding and Communication

Rapid urbanization and climate change have significantly altered the microclimate of northern cities, leading to unfavorable anomalies that threaten cities' sustainability and residents' comfort. Although it is crucial to address these anomalies, the impact of large public buildings on the microclimate needs to be addressed, with assessments of the surrounding morphology taking precedence. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting land surface temperature (LST) and geographic information systems (GIS) analyses in four northern cities: Fairbanks, Tromsø, Bergen, and Nadym. We use remote sensing techniques and GIS tools to assess the fragmentation of urban morphology and distinguish between large and small buildings to evaluate their impact on LST variations. Understanding the microclimate impacts of large public buildings is necessary to optimize spatial configurations and find a balance between vegetation and buildings to mitigate the effects of local heat islands.

The study highlights the importance of effective communication in translating scientific findings into practical ideas. To achieve this, we examine the potential of two innovative communication strategies, web-based geographic information system (GIS) applications and storytelling, to raise awareness of urban climate issues. WebGIS is a powerful tool that combines stories, visualizations, engagement tools, briefings, and surveys to present content in an easy-to-understand format for all users. This framework integrates impact analysis, risk assessment, and options exploration, allowing the assimilation of scenarios and the attribution of trends to changes in society and the land surface. WebGIS effectively communicates complex scientific results to a broad audience by combining model output with thematic city layers. Storytelling techniques complement WebGIS by providing narrative context that makes scientific data more accessible and relevant to non-experts. Framing scientific evidence into compelling narratives promotes understanding, empathy, and action by highlighting the human dimensions of urban problems. In conclusion, effectively disseminating science is crucial for solving urbanization's problems. By utilizing the power of WebGIS and storytelling, we can make complex scientific data accessible and meaningful, facilitating informed decision-making and driving positive change in urban environments.