Swedish students reveal how location shapes temperature perception
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More than 6,000 students ages 10 to 15 across Sweden collected data on how adults experience temperature, working with researchers at Uppsala University.
From fall 2025 to summer 2026, the students interviewed adults and recorded temperatures to investigate whether people in different parts of the country perceive weather differently. Initial findings show people in southern Sweden generally find temperatures more pleasant than those in northern Sweden, likely because many prefer moderate warmth to cold.
However, the province of Scania in southern Sweden proved an exception, as temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) sometimes led to discomfort. Researchers also found that immediate surroundings play a role. Cities with many tall buildings tend to be warmer than areas with trees and smaller buildings, creating variations in perceived temperature even within close proximity. This phenomenon, known as an urban heat island, is more pronounced at night and during winter.
Messori and his team plan to publish their complete findings in a scientific journal, hoping the data will inform city planning, such as increased tree planting, and improve understanding of how temperature impacts public health, both now and in the future.
