Urban Heat Island
There is a difference in heat in Arizona. For years, Tucson was downright tropical at night in the summer (temperatures in the 60's) while Phoenix continued to bake until morning. It's one of those little-known perks that folks who flee the southern desert heat miss out on.
Today, a story in the Arizona Daily Star tells us that the "urban heat island" effect is driving up Tucson's average nighttime summer temperatures into the 70's. The reason? More asphalt, more buildings with dark-colored roofs, and fewer trees. Scientists are saying if we would just be smarter about how we build (light-colored, reflective coatings on rooftops, for example), we could grow without adding to the heat.
One of the deeper implications of the "urban heat island" is losing the summer monsoon thunderstorms we in the desert live for every year. As a Tucson native, I have memories dating back as recently as college (late 80's) of nearly every Fourth of July fireworks show being cancelled by rain and lightning due to the first big monsoon of the summer. Since moving back to Tucson a few years ago, we're lucky to get our first storm by the end of July.
As for Phoenix? Forget about it. The heat island has practically killed off the monsoons up there. Living in Mesa for one summer, all I could do was gaze wistfully at the approaching dust storm whipped up by the monsoons in Tucson.
I'm not the only one who has seen this change. This editorial from last year talks about some of the same experiences. The North American Monsoon Experiment is working on providing scientific evidence about the relationship between heat and the summer storms.
I'm still the hopeless romantic. This July 4th I'll be looking to the skies as I always do, hoping nature is still packing some firecrackers.
Today, a story in the Arizona Daily Star tells us that the "urban heat island" effect is driving up Tucson's average nighttime summer temperatures into the 70's. The reason? More asphalt, more buildings with dark-colored roofs, and fewer trees. Scientists are saying if we would just be smarter about how we build (light-colored, reflective coatings on rooftops, for example), we could grow without adding to the heat.
One of the deeper implications of the "urban heat island" is losing the summer monsoon thunderstorms we in the desert live for every year. As a Tucson native, I have memories dating back as recently as college (late 80's) of nearly every Fourth of July fireworks show being cancelled by rain and lightning due to the first big monsoon of the summer. Since moving back to Tucson a few years ago, we're lucky to get our first storm by the end of July.
As for Phoenix? Forget about it. The heat island has practically killed off the monsoons up there. Living in Mesa for one summer, all I could do was gaze wistfully at the approaching dust storm whipped up by the monsoons in Tucson.
I'm not the only one who has seen this change. This editorial from last year talks about some of the same experiences. The North American Monsoon Experiment is working on providing scientific evidence about the relationship between heat and the summer storms.
I'm still the hopeless romantic. This July 4th I'll be looking to the skies as I always do, hoping nature is still packing some firecrackers.
posted by Sean at 10:13 AM
2 Comments:
Ward:
I also love the monsoon storms. We live in Mesa now -- and have for 15 years. I'm not an authority on the frequency of storms now vs. several years ago, but when they come, they're great!
Mark
Hi Mark - Seems the monsoons and dust storms were more frequent in the mid-80's but that probably when tempe and mesa we at the edge of town!
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