Overview
- The peer-reviewed study published May 18, 2026 measured temperatures downwind of two Arizona data centers and found average increases of 1.3–1.6°F with individual readings up to 4°F higher than upwind air.
- Researchers collected data by mounting high‑precision, fast-response air temperature sensors on cars and driving around a 36 MW site in Mesa and a 169 MW campus in Chandler from June through October 2025.
- The study attributes the warming to air‑cooled condenser arrays that emit plumes 14–25°F hotter than ambient air, which wind can carry beyond facility perimeters and into nearby neighborhoods.
- Authors say even small local increases can raise neighborhood air‑conditioning use and create a feedback loop that boosts energy demand and more waste heat, and they plan broader monitoring and atmospheric modeling to test mitigation options.
- Results are limited to two facilities and one season, and a separate preliminary study has reported a much larger possible radius that is still awaiting peer review, so wider impacts remain uncertain.