Question 1:

DESCRIBE the main features of this climate (as in precipitation and temperature patterns, climate drivers, biome). Identify at least two main features.Features: BWh Subtropical Hot Desert. The BW climate is the true desert. That means that precipitation is usually less than 10 inches annually. The BWh is the Subtropical Hot Desert. That means that summer temperatures are usually warmer than 100° F. A main driver for the Phoenix BWh climate is its location under the descending branch of the Hadley Circulation Cell.

Source: https://www2.paradisevalley.edu/ssd/geog/outlines/GPH111/08_climate.html

Question 2:

WHAT is a major environmental or societal issue for this location or region? (an issue should identify a problem). Describe how the location’s climate patterns might affect this issue.Issue: The Urban Heat Island. A major environmental issue for Phoenix is the Urban Heat Island. The Phoenix Urban Heat Island has higher nighttime air temperatures in the city core (downtown Phoenix) as compared to air temperatures in the rural locations (like Wickenburg and Queen Creek). The temperature differences between the city core and rural locations can range from 10-18°F, especially during the warm summer season when temperatures are already very hot.

Source: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2017/10/19/heres-how- heat-discriminates-what-phoenix-doing-help-those-risk/561116001/

Question 3:

WHO are the primary people, communities, or ecosystems (plants or animals) impacted by this issue (positively or negatively) and HOW is it impacting them? Provide one example.Impact: Poor and homeless vulnerability. The people most at risk from the Urban Heat Island are those that can’t cool effectively at night. In the Phoenix area, the communities most at risk are the poor and homeless. In BW climates like Phoenix, not being able to cool effectively at night has negative consequences for human health. On average, over 100 people in Arizona die from heat-related illnesses every year.Source: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2017/10/19/heres-how- heat-discriminates-what-phoenix-doing-help-those-risk/561116001/

Question 4:

Find another location (region, town, or city) that has the same climate type OR the same issue. WHERE is this location and HOW is it similar to (or different from) the original location? Provide one example.Another location: Dallas, TX. Dallas, Texas also has a very large urban heat island. Dallas is a large, sprawled metropolitan area (with Fort Worth) similar to Phoenix. Dallas is located in the southern part of the United States, like Phoenix. However, Dallas has a different climate than Phoenix (Dallas is a Cfa Humid Subtropical climate). That means it’s not as hot as Phoenix and has more rainfall than Phoenix.

Source: https://3blmedia.com/News/Dallas-Phoenix-People-Look-Trees-Relief-Urban-Heat-Islands

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