Black Carbon Deposits on Himalayan Ice Threaten Earth's "Third Pole"
12.14.09 - Black soot deposited on Tibetan glaciers has contributed significantly to the retreat of the world's largest non-polar ice masses, according to new research by scientists. Soot absorbs incoming solar radiation and can speed glacial melting when deposited on snow in sufficient quantities.
To refine the emerging understanding of soot's impact on glaciers, scientists are striving to gather ever more robust measurements. "We can't expect this study to clarify the effect of black soot on the melting of Tibetan snow and glaciers entirely, Additional work that looks at albedo measurements, melting rate, and other types of reconnaissance is also needed."
Glory, which will launch late in 2010, will carry a new type of aerosol sensor that should be able to distinguish between aerosol types more accurately than previous instruments.
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