As a first step in developing hypotheses, the literature was thoroughly searched for all relevant data or ideas that might help with analysis of solar conversion system impacts. This literature search was not limited to solar collectors or to the Southwest but reviewed all worldwide literature that might pertain to structures, either natural or artificial, and their influence on arid or semi-arid ecosystems. In addition, the basic and applied ecological literature as well as appropriate engineering literature were reviewed for conceptual matter that might be even peripherally considered pertinent to this study. The literature review presented many differing views on the possible consequences of construction and maintenance of solar collector arrays in a desert ecosystem. Not all data agreed but by using the most reliable information, theoretical impacts of solar collectors were developed. The approach taken was to break the impacts down into major categories and subcategories and develop theories within each of these. The major categories are: 1. Shading 2. Wind Deflection 3. Physical Disturbance Shading Solar Radiation Solar radiation, the environmental variable which is probable in least demand to living organisms in the southwestern deserts, will possibly be the most affected by arrays of solar collectors. How much of the incident solar radiation is intercepted by collectors, and thus redirected away from the
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