Micrometeorological effects and thermal-environmental benefits of cool pavements: findings from a detailed observational field study in Pacoima, California

Abstract Cool pavements represent one of several strategies that can mitigate the effects of urban overheating by increasing albedo. By definition, this means increasing reflected and potentially re-absorbed short-wave radiation but also decreased surface and air temperatures and longwave upwelling, thus reducing radiant temperatures. So far, real-world studies have been inconclusive as to net effects from cool pavements. A project by GAF installed reflective pavements in Pacoima, California, in summer of 2022. This study set out to perform detailed, high spatiotemporal resolution, multi-platform observations to quantify micrometeorological benefits of the cool pavements and address concerns regarding glare, chemistry/air quality, and pedestrian thermal comfort. Results indicated large variability, as expected, but that the dominant effects were beneficial both in direct side-by-side, real-time comparisons (RT) between test and reference areas, as well as in difference-of-difference (DofD) to quantify local changes in test areas. During a heatwave in September 2022, maximum air-temperature differences (averaged over individual street segments) reached up to −1.9 °C RT in the afternoon. During non-heatwave, hot summer days, the largest street-segment-averaged afternoon air-temperature differences reached up to −1.4 °C RT or −2.8 °C DofD, and surface temperature up to −9.2 °C RT or −12.2 °C DofD. Whereas above values represent maximum effects, more typical street-segment averages also showed statistically significant benefits. In the afternoon, the mean of air-temperature differences was −0.2 °C RT and −1.2 °C DofD. The mean of surface-temperature differences was −2.6 °C RT and −4.9 °C DofD. Indicators of pedestrian thermal comfort also showed variability but predominantly a cooling effect. The mean of differences in mean radiant temperature was between −0.9 and −1.3 °C RT, and for physiological equivalent temperature, between −0.2 °C and −0.6 °C RT and −1.7 °C DofD. In terms of predicted mean vote, the mean of differences was −0.09 RT and −0.32 DofD.