Does the urban CO₂ dome of Phoenix, Arizona contribute to its heat island?

Phoenix, Arizona has both a strong urban heat island and a large near‐surface atmospheric CO 2 “dome” during periods of atmospheric stability. In this investigation, we use a detailed one‐dimensional infrared radiation simulation model to determine the thermal impact of the elevated CO 2 levels in the urban environment. We find that the increased CO 2 concentrations below the inversion layer contribute only slightly to the observed heat island, which suggests that other factors, such as absorption of solar energy by urban surface materials and lower soil moisture levels, are largely responsible for the observed increase in urban temperatures.