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Description

The purpose of my research was to investigate the effects that different canopy covers have on desert cities microclimates and how the City of Las Vegas can implement the best techniques to reduce temperatures in the hottest parts of town. I collected data on the different temperatures in two separate parts of the city (East Las Vegas, Midtown UNLV area) in one-hour intervals during two and three in the afternoon and surveyed four different areas on its tree canopy coverage. I also analyzed scientific peer reviewed studies which helped me see what other arid cities, like Phoenix, AZ, have done to minimize their Urban Heat Island effect and whether we should implement those same techniques in Las Vegas. In my research I found that temperatures on the East side of town were on average 5° F hotter than the UNLV area and that the UNLV area has a 26% higher canopy coverage than the East Las Vegas area. These results indicate that the area of UNLV is generally cooler than East Las Vegas because of increased canopy coverage and taller buildings. To reduce temperatures in the East Las Vegas Valley, we must ease the incorporation of photovoltaics in parking lots, the planting of trees and knowledge of where to place them, and the involvement of citizens in cooling their neighborhoods.

Publisher Location

Las Vegas (Nev.)

Publication Date

Fall 12-8-2023

Publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Controlled Subject

Heat; Climatic changes

Disciplines

Climate | Urban, Community and Regional Planning

File Format

pdf

File Size

1100 KB

Comments

Faculty Mentor: Alison Sloan

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Different Canopy Covers Effect Microclimate: How the Urban Heat Island Effect Can Be Reduced in Las Vegas


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