Pavement Temperatures and Effects: Table

Factors Affecting Pavement Temperature

Condition	Condition Details	Effect on pavement temperature	Explanation
Pavement Type	Asphalt	Warming	Dark color absorbs more sunlight
Pavement Type	Concrete	Slight warming	Light color absorbs less sunlight
Weather	Sunny	Warming	Sunlight warms pavement
Weather	Cloudy	Neutral to slight warming	Lack of or low sunlight
Weather	Windy	Cooling	Wind can rapidly cool pavement, especially high winds
Weather	Snow & ice on pavement	Cooling	Snow and ice can cool pavement
Time of Day	Later morning to afternoon	Warming	Warmer air temperatures and sun warm pavement
Time of Day	Evening to early morning	Cooling	Cooler air temperatures and lack of sun cool pavement
Time of year	Mid-winter	Neutral to cooling	Colder air temperature and lower sun angle
Time of year	Early & Late winter	Warming	Warmer air temperature and higher sun angle
Subsurface	Early winter	Warming	Warmer soils may prevent/slow pavement heat loss
Subsurface	Mid-winter	Cooling	Deep frost keeps pavement cold
Subsurface	Bridges and overpasses	Cooling	No insulation - lose heat faster
Shade	Shade caused by buildings, trees, hills, objects	Neutral to cooling	Blocks sunlight, deciduous trees let some light through
Traffic	Heavy traffic	Slight warming	Tire friction, vehicle heat loss, ice breakup, convection can increase temperature