Why is Germany building roads for yesterday's climate?:
Cracked asphalt, closed highways: Heat is increasingly damaging German roads. Technical solutions for ...
dw.com/de/warum-baut-deutschland-noch-fuer-klima-von-gestern-hitzefeste-autobahnen-asphalt-infrastruktur-klima/a-78080205
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Building Heat-Resistant Roads for Germany’s FutureIn July, seven highways closed due to heat damage while innovative asphalt solutions remain largely unimplemented.
- Heatwaves exceeding 40 degrees Celsius cause concrete cracking and asphalt deformation on German highways.
- Common bitumen softens above 60 degrees, making road surfaces vulnerable to heat-induced damage.
- Research indicates lighter, reflective asphalt can reduce surface temperatures by up to seven degrees Celsius.
- Progress is hindered by a lack of binding political regulations and updated construction standards.
German roads are 'not at all designed for these loads.'— Nina Stelzenmüller, KIT engineer and head of the Road Construction Technology Department, in a DW interview
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long-term statistical characterization of atmospheric conditions in a region, typically averaged over periods of 30 years or more
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