Climate Change and Soot

A study by leading global climate scientist Dr. James Hansen and Dr. Larissa Nazarenko of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies suggests that carbon black (soot) from the

burning of diesel, biomass, and other fuels may contribute more than was previously thought to global warming, especially in polar regions. Soot accumulation on the surface of snow and ice reduces its reflectivity, increasing melting and contributing to higher temperatures in polar regions. This effect may account for as much as 25% of the warming in polar regions, according to the study, which was published in the January 13, 2004 issue of the

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.