Comparison of asphalt and concrete pavement solar reflectance

Abstract

In this study, the surface temperature and solar reflectance of concrete and asphalt paved roads were investigated during hot summer. Monthly mean readings showed that the albedo values of the concrete pavement are larger than the albedo values of the dark-colored asphalt. The amount of radiation of the asphalt pavement was 15 % lower than concrete pavement. The outgoing radiation, qr, values for asphalt ranged from 560 to 600 W.m−2, while for concrete it ranged from 470 to 510 W.m−2. As the surface temperatures increased in both pavements, the amount of energy released to the atmosphere was increased. However, asphalt pavements can be expected to increase the temperature of the environment to a greater extent due to the high surface and external energy emit capacity, especially in urban areas. Urban heat island effects and energy demands can be reduced in urban areas by using concrete pavements.