By Shaun McKinnon
The Arizona Republic
Steady growth in Arizona’s urban areas could push summertime temperatures higher by as much as 4 degrees Celsius, or 7 degrees as measured on Fahrenheit, scientists at Arizona State University concluded.
Researchers examined projected growth rates along the so-called Sun Corridor, which stretches from Prescott south to Nogales, and included the projections in models used to calculate the effects of rising temperatures related to climate change. If the urban corridor reaches a population of 9 million by 2050 as some projections suggest, the buildings, roads, parking lots and other components of bigger cities could lead to summertime temperatures of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius higher than they are today, according to the study, released Sunday.
