Observations of the urban land surface energy balance in a Phoenix, AZ, residential suburb

Direct measurements of the surface energy balance (SEB) in urban areas through micro-meteorological observation platforms are relatively uncommon, but these observations are critical for a scientific understanding the connections between urban anthropogenic activity and the Earth's local and global climate. Observations of the SEB may be applied to assess the accuracy of urban canopy models and to understand urban climate phenomena, such as the heat island and its human health, energy, and water impacts. We present initial results of local-scale (~1 km²) eddy covariance observations taken from a 23 meter tall micro-meteorological eddy-covariance flux tower sited within a typical residential suburb located in the hot semiarid city of Phoenix, Arizona. Diurnal ensemble patterns of SEB for summer (MJJ) and winter (DJF) are presented, with consideration for synoptic and regional weather conditions (e.g. cloud/non-cloud conditions, as well as the onset of the North American Monsoon), as well as several descriptive statistics (e.g. mean and variability of each flux, as well as the relative partitioning of each flux over time). Comparisons with SEB fluxes measured in other cities of similar climates will also be discussed, along with the implications of these new observations for urban climate science.