Thread: Roads (Question)

First I would like to explain the logic behind the seemingly random questions that will follow:

roads are black(due to the petroleum by-products placed in them) and as such convert light into heat rather well and thus not reflecting the light back into space and aggravating the global temperature rises we are currently experiencing particularly in cities

Many would agree that this cannot be good for the natural climate or earth in general

I was discussing it in the LIVE CHAT for the science forum(yes look at the top of ur screen there is a link) and all are welcome...

So the question is this:

What portion of the earths surface is covered by our tar roads?
Are there any studies to show these effects particularly in cities and city centers and perhaps a global scale, that roads have on temperature?

If an equal portion of the earths surface (all the roads were covered by solar panels) how much energy would it create? I know we could only estimate this based on where the roads are on earth and the efficiency of the solar panels?

Would be interesting to get an idea on how knowledgeable people are on this topic

Roads and roofs are recognized as contributing to warming. Concrete road surfaces are more reflective than asphalt, but a lot of CO2 is generated in cement manufacturing so the net effect is not easy to figure out. Here's an article you might find interesting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...ssions-climate

thanks bury thats what I was looking for

I too ponder just how much tar and city covers the earth?


I think you might this article ->http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20011105/

Originally Posted by GreenTree

I too ponder just how much tar and city covers the earth?


I think you might this article ->http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20011105/

Thanks for the reply, its interesting and I'm still looking for a specific size as well so if u find anything on that let me know

Will keep looking though

want to do conversion for the likely energy that could be harvested

To get the area, you might start with the CIA pages of various nations...miles of "tar" roads is a pretty common measure. Estimate with some assumptions like: each road is 20 feet wide etc). Than compare to total land area etc. That should get you in the ballpark.

There was a report on Science Friday today about a new type of concrete that is claimed to absorb CO2. The report was poorly done and the chemistry wasn't described, but I assume the hydrated lime slowly converts back to calcium carbonate. (Have they measured the strength of the altered concrete; does it change in volume? Important questions I would think.)

I found this report which says that Imperial College is working on the same thing. The report on the radio was from an American university prof so it seems there is a race to commercialize it.

Cement manufacture is responsible for 5% of CO2 emissions. I'm skeptical that this new concrete will make a significant dent in this. It would be more effective to capture and sequester the CO2 from the lime kilns.

http://www.aggregateresearch.com/article.aspx?id=16201