Matt McGrath, the BBC environmental correspondent says, the burning of wood is a major source of black carbon the world over.
Black carbon, or soot, is making a much larger contribution to global warming than previously recognised, according to research.
McGrath points out: “Scientists say that particles from diesel engines and wood burning could be having twice as much warming effect as assessed in past estimates.
They say it ranks second only to carbon dioxide as the most important climate-warming agent.
This if from research in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres. Black carbon aerosols have been known to warm the atmosphere for many years by absorbing sunlight. They also speed the melting of ice and snow.
This new study concludes the dark particles are having a warming effect approximately two thirds that of carbon dioxide, and greater than methane.
Apparently, if we did everything we could to reduce these emissions we could ’buy’ ourselves up to half a degree less warming”
The researchers say black carbon emissions in Europe and North America have been declining due to restrictions on emissions from diesel engines. But they have been growing steadily in the developing world.
However as these type of particles don’t last very long in the atmosphere, cutting their number would have an immediate impact on temperatures.
Cutting emissions from diesel engines could have a big effect. “Reducing emissions from diesel engines and domestic wood and coal fires is a no-brainer as there are tandem health and climate benefits,” says Professor Piers Forster from Leeds University.
Photo from the BBC.
More information: www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com