Take a look at the pictures below. I took them Saturday morning at the Rosalia airport. Rosalia is a small town in Eastern Washington about 30 miles south of Spokane.

Look closely at this old Cessna 150, the plane has been sitting abandoned at the town's tiny airport. Judging from appearances I'd say the plane has been in that spot at least a couple of years. When I first pulled up to the gas pumps I saw the little yellow trainer sitting on the ramp with flat tires and a canopy cover blowing in the breeze and thought, "What a shame." But wait, looking closer found the tires weren't just flat, they had sunk into the asphalt!

I know it gets hot in the summer out in Washington's Paloose region, but hot enough to melt asphalt? 100 to 110 degree temperatures aren't that uncommon this time of year. But it needs to be lot hotter to soften asphalt. That's around 250 degrees-- remember water boils at 212 degrees. What you're looking at is a good example of how different surfaces and colors absorb heat. A mini version of the urban heat island. Literally, the Rosalia Airport is an island of pavement surrounded by miles and miles of wheat and corn fields. The black ashpalt absorbs more energy from the sun than the surrounding fields which are lighter colored. Air temperatures reach 100 but the pavement could get 50 to 75 degrees hotter. The weight of the little Cessna-- about 900 pounds-- and the softening of the pavement have caused the two to melt together. The little yellow bird has accidentally become a permanent fixture at this Eastern Washington airport.