I’m such a Genius

White roads may be a problem but white roofs and parking lots not so.

Electromagnetic radiative energy changes in intensity & wavelength due to the temperature of the emitting entity. The Sun is hot (~6000K) and therefore mostly coats us with visible wavelength energy that penetrates through the atmosphere. Objects at ambient temperature on earth’s surface (~270K) radiate mostly in the infra-red wavelengths – wavelengths that can’t pass back through our atmosphere. Painting things to be reflective should bounce the incoming, transmissible wavelengths back out of the atmosphere before they warm the surface and contribute to overall heating. While some incoming radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere (as heat or thermodynamic molecular motion), surely some of the reflected energy will be absorbed also – but the net result will be a reduction in energy absorption by the earth. The physics of this albedo affect is well understood.

A lot of those that propose such solutions, or on the other side of the spectrum those that deny the problem exists speak in half-truths like politicians. I hate politicians.

This is a stupid article. What is white? Ice, and that won´t prevent the poles from melting. Furthermore, to paint all the roads white is silly because that will have high costs of manteinance and guess what, a reflective surface in a road is very dangerous to drive on!.

Actually it’s known that ice being white is providing a cooling effect on the poles. Just not enough to stop all melting. That’s one of the major concerns… when the ice melts this cooling effect disappears, giving positive feedback to global warming.