Desert Climate

Along with southern Florida, Arizona has long been considered a benchmark for outdoor exposure testing. Both sites, possess high levels of solar radiation and elevated temperatures, two crucial factors in weathering processes. Unlike southern Florida, however, Arizona haslowrelative humidity (approximately 30%) which can have a distinct effect on materials durability.



Atlas Weathering Services Group's Arizona desert site, DSET Laboratories, is located at approximately 50km (30mi) north of metropolitan Phoenix in an unpolluted environment. Since 1948, DSET has offered desert exposure testing, suitable for materials used in a wide range of industries, including automotive, construction and consumer products.



DSET utilizes the latest technology in weather reporting instrumentation, such as total solar (Ultraviolet, Visible and Infrared), total UV and narrow-band UV radiometers and pyrheliometers. DSET also employs instruments for monitoring ambient temperature and humidity, rainfall, total wet-time and wind speed. All instruments are directly traceable to national and international standards, including the World Radiometric Reference (WRR) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).





Test Site Data

Latitude:33° 54' North
Longitude:112° 08' West
Elevation:610 meters (2000 ft)
Average Temp:Summer: 39°C / 102°F
Winter 20°C / 68°F
Avg. Relative Humidity:37%
Total Rain: 255 mm
Total Radiant Energy:
(295-3000 nm):		 8004 MJ /M2

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