Mapping Cold Climate Urban Heat Islands and the Regime of Seeing

Tromsø is undergoing rapid urban transformation, facing challenges from climate change, densification, and the shrinking of green spaces, which are vital components of the city's bio-cultural heritage. As modern infrastructure expands, the city's microclimate shifts, impacting thermal comfort, resilience, and overall urban sustainability. One critical aspect of this transformation is the urban heat island (UHI) effect, where built environments retain more heat, altering temperature patterns across different urban scales.

This presentation explores how science and art together offer a holistic approach to understanding and visualizing these environmental changes. Using green spaces and urban heat island mapping, remote sensing, and land surface temperature analysis, we assess how urban morphology and vegetation influence microclimates at city, neighborhood, and building scales. Green spaces —recognized as biocultural heritage—are crucial in mitigating temperature extremes, particularly in densely built environments, but their distribution and accessibility remain uneven.

Beyond scientific measurement, this study also considers the “regime of seeing”—how data-driven mapping and artistic representation shape the way we perceive and understand urban climate dynamics. By combining scientific precision with artistic visioning, we explore new ways of reimagining Tromsø’s urban future and ensuring climate-adaptive, resilient development. This interdisciplinary approach provides a practical and inclusive model for balancing modern infrastructure with preserving green spaces and thermal comfort, ensuring a sustainable future for Arctic cities.