Helsinki Metropolitan Area HMA-LTSER - Finland

Basic Information
Platform Icon

Site Name
Helsinki Metropolitan Area HMA-LTSER
Short name
HMA-LTSER
Country
Finland
Operating Organisation
Site Description
The Helsinki Metropolitan Area HMA-LTSER platform belongs to the LTER-Finland network, and it covers a metropolitan area comprising Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa municipalities. About a fifth of the population in Finland lives within this platform’s boundaries, and it is the most multicultural and rapidly growing area in the country. HMA-LTSER is located on the northern shore of the Baltic Sea, between the boreal and hemiboreal climatic zones. The platform includes the most urbanised areas in Finland, which are in turn interspersed with managed mixed coniferous forests and parks, peatlands, lakes and streams. The periurban area of the platform also contains agricultural land and commercial plantations, as well as part of the waters and coast of the Baltic Sea. The area within the platform represents a blend of cosmopolitan urban life and tranquil natural landscapes, making it an attractive place for both residents and visitors. HMA-LTSER monitors relevant environmental parameters along an urbanisation gradient as well as different aspects concerning human-nature relations. The cities of Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa, as the network partners, contribute to the platform by offering data for research as well as applying research outputs in planning, policy-making and civic activities. HMA-LTSER is envisioned as a hub for different initiatives interested in exploring topics related to human-nature interactions and ecosystem services within an urban frame.
Last modified
2025-10-03 09:10:08

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General Characteristics and Status
Site Status
Operational
Year Established
2006
Observed properties
Affiliation and Network Specific Information
Affiliation
ILTERThis site is a verified "ILTER" member.
LTER EuropeThis site is a verified "LTER Europe" member.
ICOS (http://meta.icos-cp.eu/resources/stations/ES_FI-Kmp)This site is a verified "ICOS" member.
LTER Finland (LTER_EU_FI_002)This site is a verified "LTER Finland" member.
GERIThis site is a verified "GERI" member.
Photos
Aerial photograph of Helsinki downtown. Credit: Pöllö, CC BY 3.0
Aerial photograph of Helsinki downtown. Credit: Pöllö, CC BY 3.0
Aerial photograph from the University of Helsinki's Viikki Campus. Credit: Unigrafia, CC BY-NC
Aerial photograph from the University of Helsinki's Viikki Campus. Credit: Unigrafia, CC BY-NC
Winter aerial photograph from the University of Helsinki's Viikki Campus: Credit: Mikael Niku, CC BY-NC
Winter aerial photograph from the University of Helsinki's Viikki Campus: Credit: Mikael Niku, CC BY-NC
Geographic
Centroid/Representative Coordinates

Latitude: 60.1667 Longitude: 24.9333

Size
ca. 148478.44ha
Elevation (average)
23.00msl
Elevation (min)
0.00msl
Elevation (max)
180.00msl
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Site information [.json]

Centroid/representative coordinates [.shp] [.kml] [.geojson]
Bounding Box [.shp] [.kml] [.geojson]