Black carbon acts like a heat lamp on snow. It darkens the surface, accelerates melting, and triggers a dangerous feedback loop. The good news is that Black Carbon stays in the atmosphere for days or weeks. Reducing emissions can cool the region within years — not decades.“Glacier melt is accelerating, threatening freshwater resources to nearly two billion people downstream,” said Dr Palak Baliyan, lead author of the study.“The Eastern Himalaya consistently exhibits the highest levels of Black Carbon, likely due to its proximity to densely populated and biomass-burning regions. Major sources contributing to Black Carbon include biomass combustion, fossil fuel use, and open burning, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), which acts as a hotspot for emissions,” She further said.The study also suggests a strong positive correlation between Black Carbon and snow surface temperature, which means that Black Carbon is contributing significantly to enhanced surface warming.“Reducing black carbon, especially from cookstoves, crop burning, and transport, can offer quick wins for climate and water security,” said Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends.
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