Browsing by master's degree program "Maantieteen maisteriohjelma"

Large amounts of carbon is stored in the soil and vegetation of the tundra ecosystem. Carbon dioxide is stored in the vegetation in photosynthesis and is released into atmosphere from the soil and vegetation in ecosystem respiration. Rising temperatures can cause considerable changes to the delicate tundra ecosystem and create new potential feedbacks to global warming as the environment changes. There are several factors regulating carbon dioxide fluxes and their interactions and temporal changes are not yet fully known. Understanding carbon dioxide fluxes and the factors contributing to them is important in order to study and predict temporal and local changes. This research focuses on describing changes in net ecosystem exchange, primary production, and ecosystem respiration in the tundra as well as the factors contributing to them. The measurements were made with the chamber method in Saana fell, Kilpisjärvi in Finnish Lapland. This study includes 14 nivations with a total of 84 study points that were measured three times during the growing season in the summer of 2019. In addition to flux the measurements, information about controlling environmental variables were collected. These included vegetation, air temperature, soil moisture and soil temperature. The impact of the explanatory variables on fluxes at different times in the growing season was studied using mixed effects model and an estimated carbon budget was calculated for the region. The largest fluxes were measured mid-July during the peak growing season. Ecosystem respiration and primary production declined from the peak of the growing season in August towards the end of the growing season, but net ecosystem exchange increased slightly due to imbalances in the other two fluxes. Vegetation was an important explanatory variable (p ≤ 0,001) in every flux and during different times of the growing season. Air temperature had the greatest impact on net ecosystem exchange and ecosystem respiration, but the intensity of its response varied during different periods of the growing season. In both of these fluxes, higher temperatures increased the flux into the atmosphere. In primary production, the response changed in the middle of the growing season from positive to negative due to high temperatures. Soil moisture had a positive effect especially on ecosystem respiration, but its significance varied during the growing season (p = 0,0012; 0,02; < 0,001) and the response increased towards the end of the growing season. Also in primary production, response intensity and significance (p = 0,02) increased at the end of the growing season and in net ecosystem exchange the response changed from negative to positive at the end of the growing season. The response of soil temperature increased with all fluxes from the beginning of the growing season and decreased with ecosystem respiration and net ecosystem exchange towards the end of the growing season. Soil temperature was only significant in the second measurement campaign for net ecosystem exchange (p = 0,01) and ecosystem respiration (p = 0,005). During the growing season, carbon dioxide fluxes changed considerably and their explanatory factors also varied in time. The responses to soil moisture and air temperatures also turned negative or positive during the growing season. These changes and studying them is very important to understanding the processes behind different fluxes. The change in carbon dioxide fluxes and the variables that affect them in the tundra environment affects the region's carbon budget.

The goal of the Helsinki City Strategy for years 2017–2021 has been to make Helsinki the most functional city in the world. Strategy of functionality aim to improve economic attractiveness and competitiveness in Helsinki as one of its main objectives. In academic literature, regional competitiveness is connected to a wide range of different factors. However, common for many theories is an underlying idea of companies benefitting from functioning as part of a wider regional system. These benefits may relate a to better availability of labour and other specialized inputs but above all, to companies being able to make use of the knowledge located in the region. Company’s ability to utilize knowledge is linked especially to developing innovations that improve production. For cities, motivation to improve competitiveness lies in questions of employment and welfare. It can be linked to a development in which globalization and post industrialization have together led to a situation, where cities are considered to be competing on resources. This development can also be seen in a change in the role of city governments. In so called entrepreneurial cities, governments function as active agents aiming to mould cities into favourable platforms for entrepreneurship. However, despite the fact that companies are located in regional system they automatically do not have access into the benefits, such as knowledge. This brings importance to the networks of regional actors and to the manner of how they communicate through these networks. Academic literature gives evidence to an idea that besides examining only the dynamics between urban governments and companies, there should be research placed on how public and private actors exchange knowledge and how that interactions is experienced. The aim of this theses is to examine the interaction between a city and its entrepreneurs as one factor of a regional economic system. The knowledge gained is also hoped to benefit the city of Helsinki in developing its services. The research is done by examining the role of cities in entrepreneurship and the interaction between a city and its companies. Methodological perspective of this thesis is a case study. The case comprises the interaction that takes place in the permission and advisory services of the city of Helsinki, between the city of Helsinki and six private companies from the field of tourism and services. Helsinki City Strategy and one more economically profiled document are used to shed light to the role of urban government from the city of Helsinki point of view. Company perspective is gained from semi structured themed interviews with entrepreneurs, that have been clients of previously mentioned services of the city of Helsinki. Both documents and interviews are analysed by performing a theme analysis. From the entrepreneurship point of view, the current situation of the city of Helsinki aligns with the theory of an entrepreneurial city. Knowledge that companies need is mainly related to being able to understand what rules and structures effect their ability to function as a part of urban environment and to plan and implement ideas. Companies and the city of Helsinki share a common goal of building high quality urban environment that benefits all involved. However, there are also some identified challenges caused for example by different operating speed and difficulties in finding relevant information and knowledge. In general, knowledge accessibility appears to be one of the key factors in successful interaction between companies and the city. According to the results, knowledge accessibility is related to the ability to understand the structure of the city’s network of knowledge and actors. In addition to that, the type and quality of interaction is also considered important. How companies experience the interaction is related to how well the network is known and how fast the right people will find each other. Interaction that is defined by discussion and communication is viewed as effective and entrepreneur friendly. Based on the interviews there is evidence that effectivity of interaction might effect companies’ ability to run business and implement new ideas. To sum up, for companies good advising is considered to mean fast and clear answers, promoting to mean conversation, and enabling entrepreneurship to mean that companies are allowed to develop their businesses to meet the needs of their clientele. Hence, it seems important to remember that in addition to supporting the creation of innovation it is also important that efficient governance enables companies to implement their ideas.

This thesis studies language awareness in the teaching of geographic terminology. In Finland the number of people with foreign background is increasing, and language-aware teaching offers possibilities to better engage students who are learning the school language in the teaching. Geography is an important school subject when it comes to understanding cultural multiplicity, and it supports students in the building of their identities and in their integration to the society. Hence, it is important that the students with foreign background grasp the subjects studied in the geography class. In the thesis the following research questions are answered: 1. What kind of challenges does the teaching of geographic terminology pose from the viewpoint of language awareness? 2. What type of methods in the teaching of geographic terminology are language-aware? 3. What kind of activities support language-aware geography teaching? The thesis adds to the research about language awareness and participative research. Language awareness covers acknowledging and appreciating language and languages as well as taking advantage of them and taking them into consideration. The research material has been produced in a participative research process together with a group of eighth-graders. In participative research the researched become co-researchers and participate in the planning of the research and in the production of research material. The co-researchers talked about language awareness in small groups, and then shared their notes and ideas with the researcher. The research questions are answered together with literature and the empirical research material. Geography is heavily infused with scientific terminology, and a strongly place-based subject. Because of this, the understanding of the language used and the students’ personal experiences that can be connected to theory, are of essence in a geography class. As a visual subject that studies the entire world and different cultures, geography offers excellent opportunities for language awareness. Taking advantage of different languages and using methods that either don’t rely solely on language or focus on language specifically support language awareness. Attention should also be drawn to how the teacher uses language to provide accessible teaching to as many as possible. The research results can be used to guide teaching to become more language-aware, not only the teaching of geography but other subjects too. This way F2-students can better be taken into consideration both through the language(s) and the activities used in class. The thesis also brings forward students’ ideas about language awareness and holds their voices higher to be heard.

This Master’s thesis addresses perceived insecurity in socio-economically segregated districts in Helsinki surrounding metro stations. Helsinki has long been in a cycle of segregation, and news of street violence and youth gangs have caused concern. This thesis focuses on perceived insecurity, which can be caused by many factors, including physical environment and presence of other people. Segregation is a phenomenon with several causes and consequences. Segregation has often thought to be a delayed, regional consequence of economic inequality in society. Segregation can also be driven by the negative spiral in neighborhoods and the associated relocations of affluent population. In Helsinki, segregation is moderate compared to the global scale, but several studies have shown that disadvantage is localized in the eastern parts of Helsinki. Perceived insecurity is a holistic experience involving cognitive functions and risk theories. Insecurity can be experienced, for example, in terms of the characteristics of the physical environment: open spaces without social control or crowded spaces which obstruct escape routes can cause insecurity. In addition, individual factors, other people’s behavior in the space, and surveillance can affect perceived insecurity. The thesis has two research questions. In the first research question, the issues causing perceived insecurity in Lauttasaari, Herttoniemi and Mellunkylä are investigated. The reason for the selection of these districts as target areas is socio-economic diversity and proximity of metro stations, which may have an impact on perceived insecurity. The results of a security survey conducted in Helsinki serve as data related to insecurity. The second research question examines how urban planning and the characteristics of the built environment affect insecurity in the target areas. The data used for this research question are planning documents and photographs taken in the target areas. The results show large regional differences in perceived insecurity. Lauttasaari is perceived as the safest area and Mellunkylä as the least safe area, with Herttoniemi in between. In Lauttasaari, the main concerns are reduction of green areas and traffic behavior. In Herttoniemi, social problems are significantly more of a concern than in Lauttasaari. In Mellunkylä, many are concerned about, for example, intercultural conflicts, street violence and youth gangs. The different responses of the target areas may be explained by the socio-economic differences between the areas. Based on the planning documents, the aim is to improve especially the status of Mellunkylä: The aim is to create a new center in the area surrounding Mellunmäki metro station. Mellunkylä is also involved in the urban renewal project within the housing & land use implementation program concucted by the city of Helsinki. Actions targeting socio-economically weaker regions may reduce segregation and the associated regional disparities in perceived insecurity. According to the results of the photography tour, elements of the physical environment causing insecurity were found in almost all the metro station surroundings. Such elements include, for example, narrow underpasses, blocks without round-the-clock use and signs of vandalism. Helsinki is perceived as a fairly safe city, but regional differences are considerable. Measures to prevent segregation and the resulting insecurity must be aimed at preventing socio-economic disparities at the macro level by closing income disparities and raising the profile of deprived neighborhoods. At the micro level, insecurity can be prevented by improving the quality of the built environment where it is weak. However, the causes and consequences of segregation and insecurity are complex and actions need to be tailored to the local context.

Korkeuden vaikutusta eliöiden esiintymiseen on tutkittu eri alueilla jo 1800-luvulta lähtien, mutta vasta viimeisten vuosikymmenien aikana korkeuden vaikutuksen on tunnistettu olevan monimutkainen. Eri eliöryhmien lajirunsaushuiput saavutetaan korkeusgradientin eri vyöhykkeissä eri alueilla. Lintuihin korkeuden ja lajirunsauden välille on tunnistettu neljä toisistaan poikkeavaa trendiä. Korkeuden vaikutusta on tutkittu pääosin lauhkeilla ja trooppisilla alueilla, kun taas korkeiden leveyspiirien alueilta on tutkimusta vähän. Korkeuden lisäksi elinympäristöjen on todettu vaikuttavan merkittävällä tavalla lintujen esiintymiseen, mutta elinympäristöjen vaikutusta on tutkittu lähinnä metsissä, maatalousympäristöissä ja kaupungeissa. Ilmastonmuutos vaikuttaa pohjoisten alueiden elinympäristöihin erityisen voimakkaasti, mikä tekee näistä alueista tärkeitä tutkimuskohteita. Tämän tutkielman tarkoituksena on selvittää, miten korkeus ja elinympäristöt vaikuttavat lintujen esiintymiseen ja runsauteen tunturiympäristössä. Korkeuden ja elinympäristöjen vaikutusta tutkittiin tuottamalla alueellisia malleja kahdella eri mallinnusmenetelmällä (GLM ja GAM) lintuaineiston, korkeuden ja elinympäristöjen välille. Lintuaineisto kerättiin kesän 2019 aikana pistelaskennalla 420 tutkimuspisteeltä Pohjois-Norjassa Rásttigáisá-tunturin ympäristössä noin 180 km² kokoiselta alueelta. Lintuaineiston lajit luokiteltiin taksonomian mukaan lintulahkoihin varpuslintuihin, rantalintuihin, kanalintuihin ja päiväpetolintuihin. Tutkimuspisteet luokiteltiin viiteen eri elinympäristöluokkaan (metsä, metsänraja, kuiva avotunturi, kostea avotunturi, karukko) NDVI-aineiston ja ilmakuvien perusteella. Lintulajeille laskettiin Shannonin habitaatti diversiteetti-indeksi (SHDI), jonka avulla tutkittiin lajien esiintymistä eri elinympäristöissä. Sekä korkeus että elinympäristöt selittävät lintujen esiintymistä tunturiympäristössä. Korkeuden ja elinympäristöjen välillä havaittiin merkittävä suhde ja elinympäristöt sijoittuvat verrattain selvästi korkeusgradientille. Korkeuden ja lajirunsauden suhteen todettiin olevan huipukas, korkeimmat lajirunsaudet havaittiin 300–500 metrissä metsänrajalla ja sen yläpuolella. Korkeus selitti 30,3 % kokonaislajirunsauden, 30,8 % varpuslintujen ja 28,0 % rantalintujen lajirunsauden vaihtelusta (GAM). Elinympäristöluokat selittivät korkeutta paremmin etenkin esiintymisen muutoksia 50 metrin skaalalla. SHDI-arvon mukaan elinympäristöön erikoistuneimmat linnut ovat kosteiden avotuntureiden rantalintuja, kun taas varpuslinnuissa esiintyy enemmän generalistilajeja. Elinympäristöluokat selittivät tarkan skaalan lisäksi erityisen hyvin elinympäristöön erikoistuneiden rantalintujen lajirunsautta (35,5 %). Tulevat muutokset ilmastossa uhkaavat etenkin avotunturissa esiintyviä lajeja, joista monet esiintyvät vain tietyssä elinympäristössä. Korkeuden ja elinympäristöjen vaikutusten syvempään ja tarkempaan ymmärtämiseen tarvitaan lisää tutkimusta. Jatkotutkimusta tarvitaan useammalta korkeusgradientilta ja tarkemmalla elinympäristöluokituksella.

Asukkaiden tyytyväisyyttä omaan asuinalueeseensa pidetään yhtenä yleisimmistä asuinalueiden laatua tarkastelevista mittareista. Asumistyytyväisyys on myös liitetty oleelliseksi osaksi ihmisen yleistä elämänlaatua ja asuinympäristöä voidaan pitää ihmisen arkielämän tärkeimpänä elinympäristön osa-alueena. Tässä tutkielmassa tutkimuskohteena olivat lähiöissä asuvien henkilöiden asumistyytyväisyys. Lähiöt ovat oleellinen osa suomalaista kaupunkikuvaa ja Suomessa lähiöiden, ja niissä asuvien ihmisten määrä on merkittävä. Kun puhutaan tyytyväisyydestä, niin puhutaan ihmisten subjektiivisesta kokemuksesta. Tutkittaessa aihetta, joka on ihmisten subjektiivisista kokemuksista riippuvainen, luo se tutkimukselle omat haasteensa. On tiedossa, että ihmisillä on suuria eroja siinä, kuinka he pystyvät ilmaisemaan epämukavuutta sekä tyytyväisyyttä. Kun siis tehdään tutkimusta, jossa tyytyväisyyden mittarina käytetään henkilön subjektiivista arviota, tulokset perustuvat siihen olettamukseen, että ihmisten omat arviot elämästään ja tyytyväisyyden tasostaan ovat luotettavia mittareita. Tämän tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää, millä tekijöillä on yhteys suomalaisissa lähiöissä asuvien henkilöiden asumistyytyväisyyteen. Tutkimuksen aineistona toimii Helsingin yliopiston ja Suomen Akatemian rahoittaman PREFARE-hankkeen (2012–2015) aikana hankittu aineisto. Aineistoon on kyselydatan lisäksi yhdistetty vastaajien sijainnin perusteella kontekstuaalista rekisteritietoa, jotka saatiin ruututietokannasta. Aineisto on siis kaksitasoinen, yksilötaso, jossa vastaajia oli 7728 ja lähiötaso, jossa alueita oli 71. Aineiston analyysimenetelmänä toimi monitasoinen lineaarinen regressiomalli, jonka avulla pystyttiin analysoimaan monitasoista aineistoa. Analyysissä aineistosta luotiin asumistyytyväisyyttä kuvaava tyytyväisyysmuuttuja ja tutkielmassa tarkasteltiin aluetasonmuuttujien, yksilötason taustamuuttujien ja asuinympäristön kokemiseen liittyvien muuttujien yhteyksiä tähän tyytyväisyysmuuttujaan. Tutkielman oleellisin tulos oli maineen merkitys asumistyytyväisyyteen. Aluetason muuttujien yhteydet tyytyväisyysmuuttujaan kulkivat hyvin vahvasti mainemuuttujan kautta ja maineella oli myös tarkasteltavista muuttujista vahvin yhteys tyytyväisyyteen. Maineen lisäksi kaksi muuta kokemusmuuttujaa, turvallisuus ja naapurisuhteet olivat hyvin vahvassa yhteydessä asumistyytyväisyyden kanssa. Yksilötason taustamuuttujista vahvimmat yhteydet tyytyväisyysmuuttujaan olivat tulotasolla, iällä ja asunnon hallintamuodolla.

Diatoms, green algae, and cyanobacteria react fast to changing environmental conditions. Algae are important primary producers in stream ecosystems, thus changes in periphyton can influence the whole stream ecosystem. There have not been many studies where algae biomass variation has been explained with a large water chemistry data. Furthermore, there is lack of studies where metal concentrations in the water are near to natural concentration levels. In this master’s thesis I examine how environmental variables affect the changes in algae biomass. Furthermore, the aim of this study is to examine do diatoms, green algae and cyanobacteria have different responses to environmental variables. Competition between three algae biomass groups is also researched. In this study research points were classified to three land use types. The aim of the classification was to enable variation as much as possible in shading and water chemistry variables in the study area. Eventually 51 research points were selected. Algae biomass was measured with BenthoTorch. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, anions, cations, solid matter, dissolved matter and dissolved metals were measured in laboratory. Total biomass’ and algae groups’ response shapes where analyzed with GAM. Furthermore, competition between different algae groups were studied with Spearman’s correlation. The average total algae biomass was 2.94 μg cm-2 in the study area and diatoms were the most dominant group. Surprisingly the amounts of light and total phosphorus were sufficient in the study area and had no significant effect on the total algae biomass variation. However, total nitrogen, calcium, zinc, iron, and nickel were significant environmental variables in total biomass model. Total nitrogen, calcium, zinc and nickel where significant environmental variables for explaining diatom biomass variation. Total phosphorus and nitrogen were significant in cyanobacteria’s model and only zinc was significant in green algae’s model. Green algae had a weak but a significant negative correlation with diatoms and cyanobacteria. Total algae biomass growth was notable restricted in study area. The average amount of biomass matched a biomass volume in an oligotrophic stream. There were enough of light and total phosphorous in the study area, thus they had no significant effect on algae biomass. At high total nitrogen concentration levels biomass growth was inhibited. In addition, iron and nickel had a significant negative effect on total biomass. Zinc was an important mineral for algae biomass growth, specially to diatoms and green algae. Strong competition on resources did not occur between the algae groups. Negative correlations between algae groups where most likely explained with different responses to iron, nickel, and calcium. There is need for more studies to explain algae biomass in different natural stream ecosystems. For understanding better how different concentrations change algae biomass, more variation on environmental variables is needed. Furthermore, water hydrology and grazing should be measured. In addition, research on how water chemistry changes affect species composition in periphyton is recommended.

Cities are culmination points for linguistic diversities, and the variety of spoken languages is encountered in the everyday urban streetscapes. The coming together of cultures in this sense is an outstanding example of Doreen Massey’s throwntogetherness, the question of our living together. Hearing different languages can be a significant part of the sensory experience of a space, and at the same time a means of making sense of the entire social environment. Linguistic landscapes, i.e. language displays in spaces, have been studied almost predominantly by sociolinguists with a focus on the textual domains, whereas the study of the oral domain has remained limited. In more recent research, the subfield of linguistic soundscapes has aimed at better addressing the rich linguistic varieties in everyday contexts. These linguistic soundscapes are hyper-relational and thus ever-changing, constantly negotiating presences and absences. This thesis focuses on studying the different manifestations that linguistic diversities can take in the soundscape, and at the same time, how these diversities can be captured. Through a case analysis of three linguistically diverse areas in Helsinki, I explore and construct an example of conducting linguistic soundscaping. Following the conceptualisation of linguistic soundscaping, suggested by Scarvaglieri et al. (2013), the analysis builds on both qualitative and quantitative methods. I developed an observation method for capturing diversity on a spatially accurate scale by walking in the streetscape and documenting encountered languages. In doing so, I acted as a mediator in the data collection and produced a quantitative snapshot of possible linguistic diversities one could encounter while walking in the study areas. In addition, I utilised interview transcriptions and thematic analysis to understand how linguistic encounters are perceived. The results suggest that the linguistically diverse case study areas (Aleksanterinkatu, Kauppakartanonkatu and Pihlajamäki) show diversity in the spoken languages, and that the narrated linguistic experiences can come from a complex register of ‘knowing’ that builds on familiarity, linguistic resources and past experiences. The observational method, although considered to be challenging concerning subjectivity, soundscape elements and mobility, could be repeated with the findings of this study especially with additional resources. On the other hand, the differing experienced diversities invite further qualitative research, considering the multiple effects of the immediate surroundings in more detail. At best, systematically documented linguistic soundscapes could support understanding of the overall social diversity beyond register data and provide clues of who are audibly present – and absent – in the public spaces.

Tässä opinnäytetyössä tarkastelen luokkahuoneen ulkopuolisia oppimisympäristöjä lukion maantieteen opetuksessa. Tutkielmassani olen kiinnostunut selvittämään luokkahuoneen ulkopuolisen opetuksen toteuttamiskeinoja, fyysisiä oppimisympäristöjä, käytettyjä opetusmenetelmiä sekä erilaisten oppimistavoitteiden saavuttamista. Lisäksi selvitän niitä syitä, jotka toimivat haasteina ja esteinä luokkahuoneen ulkopuolisessa opetuksessa. Oppimisympäristön määritteleminen ei ole täysin yksiselitteistä ja jopa aiheen terminologia vaihtelee riippuen siitä, missä yhteydessä aiheesta keskustellaan. Selkeyden vuoksi käytän tutkielmassani ainoastaan termiä oppimisympäristö. Toinen keskeinen käsite tutkielmassani on oppiminen, jota avaan tekstissäni monesta eri näkökulmasta. Viimeisenä käsitteenä esittelen lukion maantieteen, jota tarkastelen opintojen rakenteen sekä oppiaineen nykyaseman kautta. Laadullinen maisteritutkielmani on empiirinen kyselytutkimus, jonka aineisto on kerätty lukion maantieteen opettajilta sähköisellä kyselylomakkeella. Kyselylomakkeella tavoiteltiin opettajia, jotka ovat opettaneet lukion maantiedettä luokkahuoneen ulkopuolisissa oppimisympäristöissä. Tutkimusaineisto analysoitiin pääsääntöisesti laadullisin menetelmin teemoittelua hyödyntämällä. Tulosten mukaan luokkahuoneen ulkopuolisia oppimisympäristöjä hyödynnetään lukion maantieteessä monipuolisesti ja vastauksissa tuli esiin niin luonnontilaisia, kaupunkimaisia kuin ihmisen ja luonnon vuorovaikutuksenkin luomia ympäristöjä. Opetuksessa hyödynnetyt opetusmenetelmät liittyvät vahvasti ympäristön tutkimiseen ja tulkintaan, tiedon keruuseen sekä tutkimuksen teon harjoitteluun. Opetetuissa aiheissa on paljon vaihtelua. Lukion maantieteen opetusaiheiden ja -tavoitteiden laajuus tulikin vastauksissa vahvasti esille. Luokkahuoneen ulkopuolisten oppimisympäristöjen nähdään vaikuttavan oppimiseen yksimielisesti positiivisella tavalla. Oppimisympäristöjen hyödyntämisen mainittiin lisäävän vaihtelun ja konkretian myötä opiskelijoiden mielenkiintoa opetettavia aiheita ja yleisesti oppiainetta kohtaan. Tärkeimmiksi haasteiksi ja esteiksi luokkahuoneen ulkopuoliselle opettamiselle mainittiin ajalliset ja taloudelliset resurssit sekä oppimisympäristöjen huono saavutettavuus.

Urban stormwater systems effectively connect harmful substances from urban areas to more natural waters. The goal of this study was to determine whether stormwater sumps served as purifying elements of urban waters or whether urban stormwater and its harmful substance load passes through the system into nature. In addition, the study examined if significant quantities of harmful heavy metals are deposited in the stormwater sump sediment traps, and if the intensity of land use affects the quality of sediment in these traps. The study analyzed sediment samples from 30 stormwater sump traps in Helsinki, Finland. The stormwater sumps were selected from areas representing different land use intensities. For each sump, a catchment area and the magnitude of built area were determined by using geoinformatic data. From the sediment samples taken from the stormwater sump traps, metal concentrations (Al, P, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Pb and U), susceptibility, organic matter as well as dry matter and grain size distribution were analyzed. The study looked at the statistical significance of correlations between different variables. All measured variables were also studied by primary component analysis. The differences in metal concentrations of land use classes were assessed by one-way variance analysis. The harmfulness of the sediments in the stormwater sump traps was assessed based on the regulations of the Ministry of the Environment’s degraded soil and sediment slapping guidelines. The results show that stormwater sump traps had harmful concentrations of heavy metals. Concentrations of nickel, copper, and zinc harmful to water nature were found in the sediment samples. In addition, concentrations of zinc and copper exceeding the soil pollution limits were found. Metal concentrations in sediments were generally highest in the stormwater sump traps in traffic areas. Statistically highly significant correlations were observed with the increase in land use intensity and the concentrations of heavy metals. As land use intensity increased, concentrations of metals referring to human activity increased in stormwater sump traps. However, the metal concentrations in the sediments of the stormwater sump traps were not higher than the metal concentrations in stream sediments studied in the Helsinki region. The minor amount of fine sediment present in the stormwater sump traps also suggests that the particles that move with stormwater do not sediment into the sump traps in large quantities. This study indicates that stormwater sumps in the Helsinki region could have significant amounts of harmful metals. Based on the results of this study, when draining stormwater sumps, sediment treatment should be considered prior to its possible deployment into the watershed or reuse as filling soil or mull. In particular, reusing untreated sediments from stormwater sumps in traffic areas can be detrimental to nature. The fine material sedimentation capacity of stormwater sumps should be improved to minimize the load of harmful substances passing through the stormwater system into nature. More research is needed on the sedimentation processes of stormwater sumps suitable for Finnish conditions.