Land Use Effects on Temperature and Humidity along a Urban-Rural Transect Gradient
Identifier: 35_1Publication date: 2002
Author(s):
Anthony Brazel; Brent Hedquist;
Abstract:
This study examines the effects of land use on microclimate along several commercial-to-rural land use transects in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Keywords:
land use, geography, transects, measurements, temperature, relative humidity, climate, air, humidity, air temperature
caplter, central arizona phoenix longterm ecological research, arizona, caplter created, az, cap, arid land
Temporal Coverage:
2001-07-02 - 2001-11-30Geographic Coverage:
Geographic Description:southeast Phoenix metropolitan area, cities of Tempe, Chandler, MesaBounding Coordinates:
Longitude:-111.925986 to -111.703038
Latitude:33.418018 to 33.305446
Contact:
Information Manager, Arizona State University,Global Institute of Sustainability,POB 875402,TEMPE
caplter.data@asu.edu
Methods used in producing this dataset:
Auto transect measuring climate variables
Davis Instruments hardware was mounted, read, and recorded in the vehicle used in all transects in the following manner: 1) the temperature and relative humidity module was placed outside of the vehicle in the front and center. The sensor was placed suspended ~1 cm above a 20 cm square strip of Plexiglas, which had been painted white to keep it from absorbing heat. The Plexiglas, in turn was located on top of a 10 cm high radio mount antenna, originally intended for a CB radio device. This radio mount was magnetic on the bottom, allowing it to adhere to the metal surface of the vehicle solidly, but also allowing the sensor to be a non-permanent structure on the vehicle; 2) the temperature and relative humidity sensor was attached to a Davis Sensor Interface Module Standard Model 7978, via a cable that ran through an open passenger window to the module on the passenger seat; 3) a Health EnviroMonitor Product no. 7475 (the datalogger and digital readout) was connected to the Interface Module via an Envirolink Isolator on one end, and finally on the other end was connected to a home computer at download time via a serial port.
Entities:
Table: 49_transect2landuse_1.csv[download]
Description:landuse along the transect
Attribute:date
Description:The date the readings were taken and data was collected.
Attribute:synoptic_conditions
Description:Observations on the weather conditions that day.
Attribute:geopotential_height700mb
Description:Geopotential height at 700mb.
Attribute:air_temps850mb
Description:Recorded air temperature at 850mb.
Attribute:specific_humidity850mb
Description:Recorded specific humidity at 850mb
Attribute:vector_winds850mb
Description:Wind speed at 850 mb
Attribute:uhi_magnitudeC
Description:Magnitude of carbon.
Table: 49_transects2climate_1.csv[download]
Description:climate measurements while driving the transect
Attribute:date
Description:Date the readings were taken
Attribute:direction
Description:Direction the instruments were pointed in.
Attribute:Time
Description:Time at which the readings were taken.
Attribute:Location
Description:The location along the transect where readings were taken.
Attribute:temperature
Description:Average temperature at the time of the readings.
Measurement Unit:celsius
Attribute:Hi
Description:High temperature at the time of the readings.
Measurement Unit:celsius
Attribute:Low
Description:Low temperature at the time of the reading.
Measurement Unit:celsius
Attribute:heat_index
Description:The air temperature and relative humidity combined to get an accurate reading of how hot it feels along the transect.
Measurement Unit:celsius
Attribute:Barometer
Description:The measurement of the relative humidity along the transect.
Measurement Unit:millibar
Attribute:RH
Description:The relative humidity along a transect.
Measurement Unit:dimensionless
Attribute:dew_point
Description:Dew point along the transect.
Measurement Unit:celsius