Another classic use of basic temperature data to define UHI – this time the Phoenix AZ urban heat island
February 17th, 2013 by Warwick HughesJust came across this concise article at the Arizona blog WryHeat – Urban heat island effect on temperatures, a tale of two cities – Authored by Jonathan DuHamel. We need more examples defining the UHI out there all the time to counter the colossal IPCC compliant propaganda.
Over a decade ago I posted this page – Phoenix AZ five degree grid cell –
Had a quick look at it, graphics need improving but stands the test of time I think – an example of one of the great rorts in science.
Posted in IPCC, Surface Record, Urban Heat Islands | 5 Comments »
February 17th, 2013 at 10:59 am
UHI is widely mis-understood. UHI is primarily due to reduced evapotranspiration and the Urban Canyon Effect. The idea that cities are built of heat absorbing materials is wrong. Fresh concrete has an albedo around 0.5. Whereas the albedo of forest is around 0.1. Most cities have higher albedos than the surrounding rural areas.
Dr Roy Spencer found a clear decreasing temperature trend with increasing population in the US southwest.
www.drroyspencer.com/2012/04/ushcn-surface-temperatures-1973-2012-dramatic-warming-adjustments-noisy-trends/
Maricopa is cooler at night than Phoenix, because it is built around 2 golf courses, which would be irrigated at night to produce the nice green fairways shown in pictures I googled. Spray water into the air and you increase the humidity and decrease the air temperature.
The temperature difference between the 2 cities is due to the Urban Irrigation Effect, which we also see here in Perth.
February 17th, 2013 at 11:05 am
Also there is a large area of (necessarily, because this is a desert) irrigated farmland upwind of Maricopa about 2 kms away and there will be an irrigation cooling effect from this as well.
February 17th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
I think the whole place is irrigated Philip. Not just around Maricopa. From the air the ring of irrigated golf courses and agriculture around Phoenix is striking.
February 18th, 2013 at 9:11 am
The whole place is irrigated, but Maricopa with golf courses will have a higher amount of irrigation per area than Phoenix. I’ll look for the exact locations of the stations and have a look on Google Earth.
February 18th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
Maricopa
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Date on line : Jan 1 1987 (Julian Day 1 )
County : Pinal (northwest)
Location : 5 km (3 miles) east of Maricopa
2.1 km (1.3 miles) east on Smith-Enke Rd. (from White-Parker Rd.)
In northwest corner of field #5 south of Irrigation Lab building.
Elevation : 361 meters ( 1184 ft)
Coordinates : Latitude = 33 degs 04′ 07″ Longitude = 111 degs 58′ 18″
USGS Map : Sacaton Butte 7.5′ Series Map
Soil Partical Size : 999 % Sand , 999 % Silt , 999 % Clay
Soil Texture Type : — analysis not complete —
Soil Classification : — analysis not complete —
Cooperator : Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC),College of Agri., Univ. of Arizona
Its not exactly at the location given, but looks to be on the NW corner of the field to the south. Still an irrigation research facility.
Co-incidentally, a couple of days ago at WUWT I pointed out that urban rural comparisons and homogenizations are dubious because changes in agricultural practices (including irrigation) over the last 60 years have substantially affected local rural climates and temperatures. A problem compounded by the fact many weather stations are located at agricultural research stations.
Mind you, the 2 Phoenix stations, one is on a golf course and the other is next to a golf course. I’d say all three are completely useless for any purpose other than measuring the effect of irrigation on temperatures.
Phoenix Encanto
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Date on line : Aug 26 1988 (Julian Day 239 )
County : Maricopa (northeast central)
Location : Central Phoenix, North of the Fairgrounds.
On the Encanto Golf Course southeast of intersection of Thomas Rd. & 19th Ave.
Just southeast of the 14th hole.
Elevation : 335 meters ( 1099 ft)
Coordinates : Latitude = 33 degs 28′ 45″ Longitude = 112 degs 05′ 47″
USGS Map : Phoenix 7.5′ Series Map
Soil Partical Size : 999 % Sand , 999 % Silt , 999 % Clay
Soil Texture Type : — analysis not complete —
Soil Classification : — analysis not complete —
Cooperator : City of Phoenix, Water Conservation and Resources Division
Phoenix Greenway
———————————————–
Date on line : July 29 1987 (Julian Day 210 )
County : Maricopa (northeast central)
Location : North Phoenix, Cave Creek Golf Course (northwest corner).
Southeast of intersection of Greenway Rd. & 23rd Ave.
Elevation : 401 meters ( 1316 ft)
Coordinates : Latitude = 33 degs 37′ 17″ Longitude = 112 degs 06′ 30″
USGS Map : Sunnyslope 7.5′ Series Map
Soil Partical Size : 999 % Sand , 999 % Silt , 999 % Clay
Soil Texture Type : — analysis not complete —
Soil Classification : — analysis not complete —
Cooperator : City of Phoenix, Water Conservation and Resources Division