Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts

Why Is Phoenix So Hot?

Aug 10, 2014

Phoenix is famous for its scorching hot temperatures during the summer. Between June and August, the daily high temperatures can be over 110°F (43°C) for several days in a row.

So, why is Phoenix so hot? There are a variety of natural and man-made factors.

NATURAL FACTORS

1. No Sea Breeze
This might seem kind of obvious, but I'm going to cover it anyway. Many of America's major cities are coastal cities. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, NYC, Miami, and Chicago are all located near large bodies of water. The effect of wind blowing across the water provides a year-round cooling effect called a Sea Breeze. Because Phoenix is not located near any large bodies of water, the city does not receive this natural cooling effect.

2. Low Elevation
Another factor in a city's temperature is its elevation. Phoenix is about 1,080' above sea level. Compare that with cities like Las Vegas (elev. 2,030'), Salt Lake City (elev. 4,327'), Denver (elev. 5280'), or Albuquerque (5,312'). Lower elevations typically have higher temperatures because there is more air above them, which increases the atmospheric pressure.

3. Close to the Equator
You may recall from high school geography class that the world is divided into a system of vertical and horizontal lines called Latitude and Longitude.

Phoenix is relatively close to the Equator, at just 33°N Latitude. Las Vegas is at 36°N, Salt Lake City is at 40°N, Chicago is at 41°N and Minneapolis is at 45°N. (Keep in mind, the North Pole is at 90°N).

Near the Equator, Earth's atmosphere is very thin. This allows more of the sun's energy to be absorbed by the earth. Higher elevations are more protected against the atmosphere and thus have cooler temperatures.

4. Down in the Valley
Phoenix is located in the Salt River Valley - a low spot surrounded by mountains. These mountains block the wind and rain that would ordinarily be transported by a current of fast-moving air called the sub-tropical Jet Stream. Because of our natural barriers, Phoenix has over 300 days of sunshine per year.                                          

MAN-MADE FACTORS
 
5. The Heat Island Effect
Some of the factors in Phoenix's notoriously hot temperatures are due to man-made causes. One of these is the heat island effect.

Much of the city is paved with concrete and asphalt for roads, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks. Pavement stores and retains the heat from the sun. What this means is that after the sun goes down, overnight low temperatures do not drop much as they would in an unpaved area.

So there you have it: five reasons why Phoenix is such a hot city during the summer.

Also, please remember that this article covers the climate of Phoenix. Other cities in Arizona including Flagstaff and Show Low have all four seasons.

Grand Canyon University Plans Mesa Campus for 2015

Dec 22, 2013

With Arizona's economy still recovering from the Great Recession, many unemployed and under-employed workers are looking to gain a competitive edge by going back to school. This has been good for Grand Canyon University, a for-profit private Christian university located in Phoenix.

While other for-profit schools such as DeVry University and University of Phoenix are feeling the pinch of the economic times, Grand Canyon continues to grow. Now, the university has announced plans to build a satellite campus in Mesa, Arizona which is expected to open in 2015.




Grand Canyon University Construction Update

Jun 4, 2011

Grand Canyon University Event CenterEarlier this year, we wrote about the $60 million dollar renovation underway at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. The project began in 2009 and includes a new dormitory, classroom building, athletic center, and event center.

Now, Grand Canyon is expanding the project even further with a new dining hall and plans for a high-rise classroom building, chapel, and a parking garage!


Work continues on the University's 135,000-square foot Event Center, which was designed by Architekton of Phoenix, Arizona. The massive facility will seat 5,000 people and host a variety of events including basketball and volleyball games, concerts, family shows, conferences, and other arena-style events. It is expected to open later this year.

Grand Canyon University Expands Campus, Degree Programs

Feb 6, 2011

Grand Canyon UniversityWhen it comes to higher education in Phoenix, you can pretty much count your options on one hand. Students who seek a Bachelor’s degree or higher without leaving the Phoenix metro area must consider applying to the State University or one of a handful of for-profit trade schools. But what if there were another option? There is, and it’s called Grand Canyon University.

Grand Canyon University is both a traditional four-year college as well as a full-time online college with over 25,000 students. Ground students can enjoy a true college experience complete with on-campus living.

Unlike ASU, Grand Canyon is a private college, which means that the school does not depend on the State of Arizona as its primary source of funding.

University of Phoenix Brings Higher Education to Deer Valley

Jun 26, 2008

Although Arizona's higher educational opportunities may at first seem limited compared to the Ivy League colleges of the northeastern US, there is actually a lot going on here.

 Our three largest cities are home to our three largest state-run Universities, respectively. Tempe has Arizona State University, Flagstaff has Northern Arizona University, and Tucson has the University of Arizona. Each of these schools offers both Bachelors and Masters degree programs in over 100 different fields of study. So, what else going on in the Phoenix area?

The truth is that higher education in Phoenix is spreading like wildfire. All across the valley, the ten main campuses of the Maricopa Community Colleges system bring "university transfer, career and job training programs" to over 122,000 students each year. In fact, many of the larger campuses have opened satellite campuses of their own. Glendale Community College has its own offshoot located on Happy Valley Road between 57th and 60th Avenues, right in North Phoenix.

 

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