Painting the roofs of buildings white has the potential to significantly cool cities and mitigate some impacts of global warming, a new study indicates. The research, which is the first computer modeling study to simulate the impacts of white roofs on urban areas worldwide, suggests there may be merit to an idea advanced by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and other policymakers that white roofs can be an important tool to help society adjust to climate change. But the study team, led by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), cautions that there are still many hurdles between the concept and actual use of white roofs to counteract rising temperatures. ‘Our research demonstrates that white roofs, at least in theory, can be an effective method for reducing urban heat,’ says NCAR scientist Keith Oleson, the lead author of the study. ‘It remains to be seen if it’s actually feasible for cities to paint their roofs white, but the idea certainly warrants further investigation.’ The study is slated for publication later this winter in Geophysical Research Letters. It was funded by the National Science Foundation, NCAR’s sponsor. Cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change because […]