IF CALIFORNIANS REPLACE THEIR LAWN WITH STONES AND CACTII CLIMATE MODEL GIVES SURPRISING RESULTS

This piece gives the details. I am not surprised that the model predicts that it may increase day-time temperatures due to less evaporation, but what did surprise me was that it predicted lower night temperatures. The explanation being that "reducing soil moisture decreases upward heat fluxes from the sub-surface to the surface at night". Are they suggesting that the heat is retained in the soil? In which case the soil will get hotter and hotter! Of course it doesn't have to be correct as it is only a model.