In the frantic search for solutions to the crisis of global warming, climate, policy makers and other environmentalists have overlooked a major cause of rising temperatures worldwide, the black soot residue that — covering chimneys and vehicle exhaust obscures. Black carbon soot can be the second largest contributor to global warming with the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. AccordingStanford environmental engineering professor Mark Z. Jacobson, “Soot or black carbon, can be responsible for 15 to 30 percent of global warming, however, is not even considered in any discussions about controlling climate change. “(” Nature “, ScienceDaily, Feb. 9, 2001). Jacobson also noted that humans produce the majority of soot particles that pollute the atmosphere. Argues that the soot is mainly composed of elemental carbon and 90 percent of what it refers to consumption of fossil fuels (especially coal, diesel fuel, jet fuel, natural gas, kerosene) and wood burning and other biomass. Jacobson also claims that cutting global emissions of soot and control of biomass burning could quell the alarming pace of global warming and reduce our dependence on fuels that produce soot. (Http: / / www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/02/010208075206.htm.)

Besides its impact on global warming, soot is bad for your health . The World Health Organization reports that approximately 2.7 million people die each year from air pollution and the reduction of wood and other biomass burning to mitigate global warming and also to save lives and improve health of people.

Other studies have dispelled the myth that burning wood and other biomass is green or carbon neutral “and that fine particles emitted during the combustion process actually accelerate change climate. (both www.burningissues.org “Science” and “Global Warming” headings).

warming effect of black carbon soot is much higher than previously estimated

atmospheric scientist V. Ramanathan of Scripps Institute of Oceanography and University of Iowa chemical engineer Greg Carmichael found that black carbon soot from burning wood and other biomass, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust has a warming effect in the atmosphere three to four times greater than prevailing estimates. (Nature Geoscience 1, 221-227 (March 24, 2008). It is estimated that soot and other forms of black carbon particles can be either 60 percent of current global warming effect of carbon dioxide and its correlation with the results of similar studies from Stanford, Caltech, and NASA.

A simplified explanation for the warming effect is that wood smoke from thin clouds of fine particles. And as total suspended in the air increased, decreased cloud cover, allowing more sunlight to reach the earth. According to Ramanathan, approximately 35 percent of black carbon in the atmosphere comes from China and India. However, per capita emissions of black carbon soot in the United States and some European countries is still comparable to those of Asia. Ramanathan of the research also found that the warming effects of carbon black smog seems to be accelerating the melt of the Himalayan glaciers, leading to early drying of a major source of drinking water for billions of people across Asia.

The

International Group on Global Climate Change (IGPCC) agreed black carbon soot which is a of the major contributors to global warming

2007 Nobel Winner IGPCC group of about two thousand scientists concluded that black carbon soot has a serious effect global warming. This was significant because it was previously untreated soot as a major contributor to global warming. There was also no amplification of black carbon before heating effect is taken into account when mixed with other aerosols, new secondary fine particles.

Studies of the fine particles of wood smoke in several communities

A study by the EPA cites that “In some quarters, on some days, 90% of particulate pollution is residential wood combustion.” (Jane Koenig and Timothy Larson, an abstract characterization emissions and non cancer respiratory effects of wood smoke, USEPA # 453/R-93-036 DOC ,1-919-541-0888).

A study in two San Jose, California showed that pollution from wood smoke was 4.4 times that of gasoline or diesel fuel for vehicles. ( “Comparison of source apportionments of fine particulate matter in two of San Jose, CA Locations” San Jose Speciation Trends Network).

next step

Because of the urgency of reducing emissions of carbon black can not be overstated, reduce soot from wood smoke that provide almost immediate benefits in improved weather conditions in the United States. Also, the society and provide immediate health benefits. This would facilitate the political and policy for the mitigation of carbon black.

It is urgent to promote public awareness of the role of wood smoke crucial in global warming to education and policy changes.