Final answer:
Elevated and shaded areas are likely to freeze before other road surfaces due to losing heat more rapidly and receiving less solar radiation, respectively. Sun-exposed and high-traffic areas tend to remain warmer and are less likely to freeze first.
Step-by-step explanation:
The areas that are likely to freeze before other road surfaces are (d) Elevated areas. This is because elevated surfaces such as bridges and overpasses lose heat from both above and below, making them susceptible to freezing temperatures before roads that are insulated by the ground beneath them. Due to their exposure to the air on all sides, these elevated areas cool down more quickly when temperatures drop.
Moreover, (a) Shaded areas are also likely to freeze before sun-exposed areas because they receive less direct solar radiation and therefore have less opportunity to absorb heat during the day. During the winter, as explained in Figure 4.6, the Sun's rays are less effective at heating the ground due to the low angle of the sun in the sky, exacerbating the cooling effect in shaded regions.
(b) Sun-exposed areas and (c) High-traffic areas are less likely to freeze first. Sunlight warms the pavement, as illustrated in Figure 14.25, where darker pavement absorbs more solar radiation and gets hotter, melting the ice more efficiently. Furthermore, high-traffic areas may retain more heat due to the regular movement of vehicles, which can also prevent the surface from freezing as quickly.