Yes, ice tends to melt faster on a black surface compared to a lighter-colored surface. This phenomenon is due to the concept of albedo, which is a measure of how much solar radiation is reflected by a surface. A black surface has a low albedo, meaning it absorbs more solar radiation than it reflects.
When sunlight falls on a black surface, such as a black pavement or a dark-colored object, it absorbs a significant amount of the incoming solar energy. This absorbed energy gets transferred to the ice in contact with the black surface, leading to an increase in temperature and the acceleration of the melting process.
In contrast, a lighter-colored or white surface has a higher albedo, reflecting more solar radiation away from the surface. As a result, less solar energy is absorbed, and less heat is transferred to the ice, slowing down the melting process.
It's worth noting that the ambient temperature and other environmental factors also play a role in ice melting. However, when comparing identical conditions, the black surface will generally facilitate faster ice melting due to its lower albedo and higher absorption of solar radiation.