Black Carbon Deposits and Snow-Glacier Melting
Source : The Hindu
GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Why in News ?

World Bank has said in a study Black carbon deposits due to human activities are increasing glaciers and snow melt in the Himalayan ranges.

• They are changing temperatures and precipitation patterns.
• Study : Glaciers of the Himalayas: Climate Change, Black Carbon and Regional Resilience.

Key Facts

• Black carbon deposits originating from factories, cooking and vehicles are compounding the effects of climate change to speed up the melting of the Himalayan glaciers.

  

• Curbing black carbon emissions can slow glacier melt and improve the security of water resources in the region.
• Black carbon deposits reduce only 23 percent with the current policies in place through
  • Enhancing fuel-efficiency standards
  • Phasing out diesel vehicles
  • Promoting electric cars
  • It is not enough to prevent an acceleration of water releases from glacier melt in the region 
• New economically and technically feasible policies are within reach to contain glacier melt at current levels.

How black carbon generate?

• Black carbon is a kind of an aerosol, a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in the air.
• It contains particulate matter or PM.
• It gets emitted from gas and diesel engines, coal-fired power plants, and other sources that burn fossil fuel.

World bank suggestion to reduce Black Carbon ?

• Work together to manage hydropower resources, an important source for the region’s clean energy needs and a generator of energy trade and security.
• Regional cooperation will be necessary to create joint adaptation strategies.

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