Black carbon
28.03.2024
Black carbon
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For Prelims: About Black carbon, Impacts of black carbon |
Why in the news?
According to a study, the residential sector contributes 47% of India’s total black carbon emissions.
About Black carbon:
- It is the dark, sooty material emitted alongside other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted.
- It comprises a significant portion of particulate matter or PM, which is an air pollutant. It is a short-lived climate pollutant with a lifetime of only days to weeks after release in the atmosphere.
- It is an important contributor to warming because it is very effective at absorbing light and heating its surroundings. It contributes to warming by converting incoming solar radiation to heat.
- It also influences cloud formation and impacts regional circulation and rainfall patterns. When deposited on ice and snow, black carbon and co-emitted particles reduce surface albedo (the ability to reflect sunlight) and heat the surface.
- Most black carbon emissions in India arise from burning biomass, such as cow dung or straw, in traditional cook stoves.
Impacts:
○It contributes to global warming and poses severe risks. Studies have found a direct link between exposure to black carbon and a higher risk of heart disease, birth complications and premature death.
○It has a warming impact on climate that is 460-1,500 times stronger than CO2.
Source: The Hindu