How does asphalt behave in terms of temperature changes?

Asphalt is a material that exhibits significant thermal behavior due to its composition and dark color. During the day, asphalt absorbs and retains heat from sunlight, becoming hot as it reaches its peak temperature, typically in the afternoon. In the morning, especially before the sun has fully risen, the asphalt is generally cooler due to the absence of solar radiation during the night. As the day progresses and temperatures rise, the asphalt heats up.

In the evening, as the sun sets and temperatures drop, asphalt gradually loses some of its absorbed heat, leading to cooler temperatures. This cycle of thermal behavior aligns with the idea that asphalt is cooler in the morning as it has not yet absorbed the day's heat, then becomes hotter as the day continues, and finally cools down again in the evening, after the sun has set.

This understanding of asphalt's temperature behavior is crucial for applications such as road construction and maintenance, as it informs decisions regarding material selection, installation timing, and performance expectations under varying weather conditions.