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Radiation and energy balance characteristics of asphalt pavement in permafrost regions

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Abstract

Solar radiation and energy balance between the atmosphere and asphalt pavement directly affect the heat absorption of the pavement, resulting in a temperature increase and possible thawing of the permafrost beneath embankments in permafrost regions. The study area is located in the eastern side of the Qiangtang large continuous permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. By in situ field testing about radiation and energy transfer, the heat absorption of asphalt pavement in the experimental section of high-grade highway in the Beiluhe area was analyzed. The energy exchange between the atmosphere and asphalt pavement differs from the natural surface. Compared with natural surface, the asphalt pavement shows an increased radiation capacity of downward longwave radiation, upward longwave radiation, and downward shortwave radiation, as well as a reduced radiation capacity of upward shortwave radiation. These changes in radiation capacity substantiate the increase in the heat absorption of asphalt pavement. Overall, the net radiation amount of asphalt pavement is 6.45 % higher than that of a natural surface. Sensible heat and latent heat dominated the energy transportation. However, in contrast to that of the natural surface, the sensible heat flux of the asphalt pavement was reduced by 15.95 %, whereas the latent heat flux was reduced by 32.1 %. The increase in solar radiation energy absorption and the decrease in energy transfer caused the asphalt pavement to absorb more heat than the natural surface. This difference in energy balance was a driving force in the thermal effects of asphalt pavement. Analysis of heat sources of asphalt pavement will help to take appropriate engineering measures for the normal operation of road construction in cold regions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the anonymous reviewers for providing us with constructive and insightful comments and suggestions. This research was supported by the following: Youth Fund Project, Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41301071), Key Foundation Project, Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41330634), Foundation for Excellent Youth Scholars of CAREERI, CAS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Zhongqiong Zhang & Qingbai Wu

  2. Beiluhe Observation Station of Frozen Soil Environment and Engineering, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Golmud, 816000, China

    Zhongqiong Zhang & Qingbai Wu

  3. Key Laboratory of Land Surface Process and Climate Change in Cold and Arid Regions, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Xueyi Xun

Authors
  1. Zhongqiong Zhang
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  2. Qingbai Wu
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  3. Xueyi Xun
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Correspondence to Qingbai Wu.

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Zhang, Z., Wu, Q. & Xun, X. Radiation and energy balance characteristics of asphalt pavement in permafrost regions. Environ Earth Sci 75, 221 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4975-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4975-5

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