The blazing heat of the summer sun can be used to prevent roads from icing up in winter.
In a trial of the idea, a network of polyethylene water pipes 25 millimetres in diameter has been buried below a section of private road in the UK. The pipes are laid in rows about 15 centimetres apart and at a depth of 12 centimetres, where the ground temperature is normally about 12 掳C on average. In the summer this can rise to 25 掳C.
The sun warms the asphalt at the surface, which absorbs heat and in turn warms the water…
