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A case study in resort climatology of Phoenix, Arizona, USA

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Abstract

Tourists often use weather data as a factor for determining vacation timing and location. Accuracy and perceptions of weather information may impact these decisions. This study: (a) examines air temperature and dew points from seven exclusive resorts in the Phoenix metropolitan area and compares them with official National Weather Service data for the same period, and (b) utilizes a comfort model called OUTCOMES—OUTdoor COMfort Expert System—in a seasonal appraisal of two resorts, one mesic and one xeric, compared with the urban Sky Harbor International Airport first-order weather station site in the central urban area of Phoenix, Arizona, USA (lat. 33.43°N; long. 112.02°W; elevation at 335 m). Temperature and humidity recording devices were placed within or immediately adjacent to common-use areas of the resorts, the prime recreational sites used by guests on most resort properties. Recorded data were compared with that of the official weather information from the airport station, a station most accessible to potential tourists through media and Web sites, to assess predicted weather for vacation planning. For the most part, Sky Harbor’s recorded air temperatures and often dew points were higher than those recorded at the resorts. We extrapolate our findings to a year-round estimate of human outdoor comfort for weather-station sites typical of resort landscapes and the Sky Harbor location using the OUTCOMES model to refine ideas on timing of comfortable conditions at resorts on a diurnal and seasonal basis.

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Acknowledgements

Although resort managers wish to remain anonymous, we wish to thank them very much for allowing the field collection phase of this study. We would like to thank cartographer Barbara Trapido-Lurie of ASU Geography Department for graphics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-0104, USA

    Donna A. Hartz

  2. Department of Geography (Office of Climatology) and Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-3211, USA

    Anthony J. Brazel

  3. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station, c/o SUNY-ESF, 5 Moon Library, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Gordon M. Heisler

Authors
  1. Donna A. Hartz
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  2. Anthony J. Brazel
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  3. Gordon M. Heisler
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Correspondence to Donna A. Hartz.

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Hartz, D.A., Brazel, A.J. & Heisler, G.M. A case study in resort climatology of Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Int J Biometeorol 51, 73–83 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-006-0036-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-006-0036-9

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