Desert

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

Atlas' Arizona desert site is located at approximately 50km (30mi) north of metropolitan Phoenix in an unpoluuted 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.




Latitude: 33° 54' North
Longitude: 112° 08' West
Elevation: 610 meters (2000 ft)
Temperature:
Average High
Average Low		 Summer
39°C / 102°F
24°C / 75°F		Winter
20°C / 68°F
8°C / 46°F
Relative Humidity:
Annual Mean
37%
Annual Preciption:
Rain		 255 mm / 10 inches
Solar Radiant Exposure:*
Total
UV
8004 MJ/m2
334 MJ / m2
* Radiant Exposure measured at latitude titl angle (34° South)

Monthly UV and Total Radiant Exposure for Central Arizona (MJ/m2)

MONTH UV TOTAL
January 20.1 490
February 19.8 546
March 24.7 633
April 33.3 755
May 38.6 786
June 36.8 770
July 35.1 745
August 32.5 756
September 29.3 711
October 25.8 705
November 19.2 582
December 18.3 525
YEARLY TOTAL 333.5 8004

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