Why ice melts in freezing temperatures: The science of solar radiation

With Oklahoma's road conditions improving after days of ice and snow, many may wonder how the ice has melted despite temperatures remaining below freezing.

News 9 Meteorologist Lacey Swope explains how the impact of solar radiation on different surfaces has helped make roads navigable once more.

How does solar radiation melt ice?

Even on the coldest winter days, the sun's radiation still reaches Earth through its clouds and atmosphere. The radiation directly heats up the ground, instead of warming the air.

This permits surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces absorb heat, which in turn melts ice and snow.

Why do some surfaces melt faster?

Even on the coldest winter days, the sun's radiation still reaches Earth through clouds and the atmosphere. The radiation heats the ground directly, rather than warming the air.

This allows surfaces like roads and sidewalks to absorb heat faster than other surfaces.

Factors that influence ice melt include the angle of sunlight, cloud cover, the distribution of salt and sand, and plowed roads, which allow solar radiation to penetrate the asphalt more easily.

Why does the ice refreeze at night?

At sunset, solar radiation disappears, and air temperature becomes the key factor in ground temperature. Melted water can quickly refreeze, turning back into ice.

This can make roads dangerously slick at night, even if they were clear during the day.

Understanding how solar radiation works helps drivers make more informed decisions about whether to travel during icy weather. Sunlight and the time of day are crucial factors in road safety, all due to the power of the sun.