Seasonality: Nature,People's Preferences and Urban Planning in Oulunsalo,Finland

Seasonal changes are particularly strong in northern Europe. Daylight, temperature, flora, fauna and landscape change from day to day. We discuss how seasonality exists in nature, is felt by people and is reflected in urban planning. The case study regards Oulunsalo municipality with a population of 9,000 at the northern most Baltic Sea coast in Finland. In 2003 the mean temperature of the coldest month in Oulunsalo was ?16.4 and the warmest +19.5 centigrade. The longest day was 22 hours 3 minutes and the shortest 3 hours and 35 minutes. A survey among the adult Oulunsalo population shows that summer is the best season for the majority of people (72%)—more often for men (78%) than for women (66%). Almost everybody (96%) likes the change of seasons. Seasons and seasonal preferences should be considered more in urban planning processes and land-use plans.