Data for modelling spatial patterns and determinants of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in Phoenix metro area

The purpose of this work is to describe determinants and spatial patterns of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in Phoenix, Arizona. Specifically, we use geographic information systems (GIS) and regression-based analyses to identify the human and biological factors that contribute to spatial and temporal variations in near-surface atmospheric CO2 levels. We use these factors to create estimated surfaces of CO2 for the urban area. We validate our surfaces using independently collected records of CO2 from several monitoring stations and transects. To investigate the temporal patterns and variations of CO2, we were able to generate CO2 surfaces for the early mornings and the afternoons, and on weekdays when traffic is heavy and spatially focused and on weekends when it is lighter and more spatially dispersed. Our findings suggest there is a distinct relationship between the structure of Phoenix CO2 levels and spatial patterns of human activities and vegetation densities. Morning CO2 levels are higher than afternoon levels and correspond closely to the density of traffic, population, and employment. The spatial structure of human activity explains the pattern of CO2 better on weekdays than on weekends. CO2 surfaces reflect declining densities of human activity with distance from the city center, the pattern of irrigated agriculture in the Phoenix area, and riparian habitats on the urban fringe. Spatial and temporal patterns of CO2 are useful in understanding urban climate and ecosystem processes.