Black Carbon: A Climate Threat
What is it?
Black carbon (BC), also known as soot, is a component of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution.
It forms during the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass (like wood burning).
Black Carbon vs CO2: Climate Villains
Both black carbon (BC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are air pollutants that contribute to climate change, but they differ in their properties and impact:
Black Carbon:
Short-lived: Stays in the atmosphere for days to weeks.
Strong warming effect: Absorbs sunlight very effectively, warming the air around it up to 1,500 times stronger than CO2 per unit of mass.
Health impacts: A major contributor to air pollution, linked to respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer.
Sources: Incomplete combustion of fuels (diesel, wood burning), industrial processes.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2):
Long-lived: Can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Weaker warming effect: Warms the atmosphere by trapping heat, but less potently than BC per unit of mass.
Health impacts: Not a direct health threat, but contributes to climate change which can indirectly impact health.
Sources: Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), deforestation.
Summary:
BC: Acts like a short-term but intense burst of warming.
CO2: Acts like a long-term blanket, gradually warming the planet.
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