Friday 18 August 2017

What is Black carbon and how it effect ozone






According to a recent study by climate researchers, aeroplanes may be ejecting significant amounts of black carbon (BC) and this may be depleting the ozone layer.
The study was conducted by climate researchers from multiple institutions in India including from the Indian Institute of Science and ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

Key facts:

Earlier it was believed that airborne BC is unlikely to travel upward of 4 km and dissipate and settle down in few months under the influence of wind and rain.
However, this study shows that such particles exist up to 18 km into the stratosphere, a stable region of the atmosphere and there are about 10,000 of them in every cubic centimetre.

What is Black Carbon?



Black carbon consists of pure carbon in several linked forms.
It is formed through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuel, and biomass, and is emitted in both anthropogenic and naturally occurring soot.
Black carbon (BC) is a pollutant known to aggravate breathing disorders.
Because BC particles strongly absorb solar and terrestrial radiation and heats up the atmosphere it can upset the monsoon system.
If deposited on snow, it could accelerate the heating of snow and quicken the melting of glaciers.


Black Carbon affecting Ozone layer:


Given the shape and location of these particles, Black Carbon could only derive from emissions from aviation fuel and they pose a problem because these black carbon particles can linger long enough to provide a fertile ground for other chemical reactions that can deplete the ozone layer.
The stratosphere is a stable region of the atmosphere and because BC particles absorb heat, they warm the surrounding air, become lighter and rise to greater heights by a process called ‘self lift’ and persist in the air. The sheer volume of air travel means that the black carbon count only continues to increase.

About Aerosols:
Aerosols are a subset of air pollution that contains gases, fumes and dust in harmful proportion.
Aerosols particles can be both solid and liquid which also affects environmental visibility.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/aeroplanes-may-be-affecting-ozone-monsoon/article19498497.ece
[Ref: The Hindu]
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