Road surface temperature soars to 45 degrees amid heat wave

Social Affairs

Road surface temperature soars to 45 degrees amid heat wave

Published: 14 Aug. 2024, 18:19 Updated: 14 Aug. 2024, 18:32

Water trucks conduct a drill of spraying water on the runway at Jeju International Airport on Wednesday. Runway temperatures typically hover around 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), but when they exceed 60 degrees Celsius, it becomes crucial to sprinkle water to cool the surface. The Korea Meteorological Administration conducted a special inspection on Friday and discovered that road surfaces exposed to the sun at Boramae Park in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, reached up to 45.5 degrees Celsius.[NEWS1]

Amid the ongoing searing heat wave, asphalt roads are becoming extremely hot, with surface temperatures reaching over 45 degrees (113 degrees Fahrenheit) Wednesday.

Water trucks conducted a drill spraying water on the runway at Jeju International Airport on Wednesday to cool such scorching surfaces.

Temperatures of airport runways typically hover around 50 degrees Celsius. When runway temperatures exceed 60 degrees Celsius, it is crucial to sprinkle water to manage the surface condition.

The Korea Meteorological Administration said on Wednesday it examined green zones and roads of Boramae Park in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, on Friday and found that road surfaces exposed to the sun reached up to 45.5 degrees Celsius.

BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]