Sweltering LA neighborhood sees temperatures plummet after new road tactic deployed

Los Angeles is fighting its brutal summer heat from the ground up.More than 700,000 square feet of scorching asphalt in Pacoima — one of the hottest neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley — was coated with a special solar-reflective material as part of an ambitious experiment to see whether simply changing the surface beneath residents’ feet could cool down an entire community.And the results could be a game changer as Southern California swelters through another punishing stretch of summer heat.The region was placed under heat a heat advisory, with the National Weather Service issuing a warning in effect from July 31 through August 2 as temperatures are expected to reach 110 degrees.That makes the results of the massive Pacoima cooling experiment even more timely.Researchers found that a specialty pavement coating called DuraShield-SR slashed surface temperatures by more than 16 degrees Fahrenheit, according to findings published in Environmental Research Communications.Even better for overheated locals, ambient air temperatures along treated streets dropped by up to 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit during a heatwave.

California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story While traditional asphalt soaks up the heat from the sun all day like a giant sponge, the reflective coating works in reverse by reflecting the rays back into the atmosphere before the heat can sink into the ground.

In concrete heavy areas, so called “cool pavement” is an incredibly important distinction from traditional blacktop.To verify the tech, researchers went all out over a 12-month period, using weather stations, satellite imagery, drones, thermal sensors and even an electric golf cart loaded with monitoring equipment to measure the experiment.Some critics reportedly feared the coating w...