Black Carbon Curriculum
Lesson 1:
Black Carbon
Rev 10A
Kali Basman, Jessa Ellenburg and John Birks
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson students will be
able to:
• Define and describe Black Carbon.
• Explain the main Impacts and Effects of Black
Carbon.
• Identify Natural and Anthropogenic Sources of Black
Carbon and name two examples of each.
• Discover the Technology and Policy that can help
mitigate Black Carbon.
Black Carbon Curriculum
Part 1:
Define and Describe
Black Carbon
Black Carbon
Black Carbon: Product of
incomplete combustion
consisting of amorphous carbon.
Commonly known as soot.
Combustion: The process of the burning
of fuels in the presence of oxygen.
Incomplete Combustion: Occurs when
there is not enough oxygen to allow the
fuel to react completely, producing
harmful chemicals such as black carbon.
Black Carbon Curriculum
Part 2:
Explain the Main
Impacts and Effects of
Black Carbon
Black Carbon in the Atmosphere
Impacts and Effects of Black Carbon: These little particles
have the ability to change climate and affect human and
environmental health.
-Albedo Effect
-Global Warming
-Melting Snow/Ice
-Pollution/Visibility
-Human Health
Black Carbon smoke billowing out of a factory in Hampshire, England
Black Carbon in the Atmosphere
Impacts and Effects of Black Carbon:
-Albedo Effect
-Global Warming
-Melting Snow/Ice
-Pollution/Visibility
-Human Health
Albedo
Albedo : The amount of energy reflected by a surface, measured
on a scale from 0-1. The scale refers to the percent of energy
that is reflected, with 0 meaning no energy is reflected and 1
meaning 100% of the energy is reflected.
Pure Snow: High Albedo,
Reflects Sun and cools air
Dirty Snow: Low Albedo,
Absorbs sun and and warms air
Albedo=Reflectivity
Albedo Scale
Green Grass: Medium Albedo
Reflects 25% of sunlight, absorbs 75%
0
.80
.04
1
.25
Dark Forest: Low Albedo
Absorbs 96% of sunlight
Pure Snow:
High Albedo
Reflects 80%
of sunlight
Black Carbon in the Atmosphere
Impacts and Effects of Black Carbon:
-Albedo Effect
-Global Warming
-Melting Snow/Ice
-Pollution/Visibility
-Human Health
Global Warming
Most Aerosols = High Albedo
-Shiny (like a mirror)
-Reflects and scatters sunlight
-Cooling effect
Black Carbon Aerosol = Low Albedo
-Dark and dull
-Absorbs sunlight
-Warming effect
Black Carbon in the Atmosphere: Absorbs sunlight and generates heat, warming
the air.
Black Carbon in the Atmosphere
Impacts and Effects of Black Carbon:
-Albedo Effect
-Global Warming
-Melting Snow/Ice
-Pollution/Visibility
-Human Health
Melting Ice and Snow
Black Soot deposited on Tibetan Glaciers
Melting Ice and Snow: The Ice-Albedo
Feedback
Lowered Albedo
More Melting
More Sunlight Absorbed
Black Carbon in Snow/Ice: Lowers albedo, absorbing more sunlight, causing snow
and ice to melt. Known as the Ice-Albedo Feedback.
Ice-Albedo Feedback Video
NASA: Ice Albedo and Glacial Melt
Melting Ice and Snow
The two most sensitive areas for black carbon:
Arctic
Himalayas
Melting ice sheets in the Arctic.
Researchers trek high into the
Himalayas to collect ice cores
that contain soot deposition.
Black Carbon in the Atmosphere
Impacts and Effects of Black Carbon:
-Albedo Effect
-Global Warming
-Melting Snow/Ice
-Pollution/Visibility
-Human Health
Pollution/Visibility
Smog Pollution in Beijing, China
SMOG = SMOKE + FOG
Black Carbon in the Atmosphere
Impacts and Effects of Black Carbon:
-Albedo Effect
-Global Warming
-Melting Snow/Ice
-Pollution/Visibility
-Human Health
Human Health
The Great Smog killed between 4,000 and 12,000 people. 100,000
residents became ill due to emissions, including black carbon.
Human Health
The health effects
of black carbon
include asthma,
lung cancer,
cardiovascular
problems, birth
defects and
premature
deaths.
Black Carbon Curriculum
Part 3:
Identify Natural and
Anthropogenic Sources of
Black Carbon
Black Carbon Emissions by Region
Black Carbon Emissions for 2000, in Gigagrams (T. Bond 2007)
Anthropogenic Black Carbon Sources
Agricultural Burning
Major source of Black Carbon
Satellite picture of slash and burn agriculture along the Xingu River, Brazil
Cookstoves
Inefficient Cookstoves: Major source of Black Carbon
Natural Sources of Black Carbon
Natural Sources
Natural Sources of Black Carbon include erupting volcanoes, sea salt, and wildfires.
Transport
Global Transport of Black Carbon
Black Carbon Curriculum
Part 4:
Discover the Technology
and Policy that Can Help
Mitigate Black Carbon
Policy
•
•
•
•
UK Clean Air Act 1956
US Clean Air Act 1963
Regulation, Monitoring Emissions
Black Carbon Reduction Act
Policy
There are a number of recommended policy actions that would help
reduce black carbon emissions, including:
• Regulating crop burning
• Banning slash and burn techniques
• Limiting idling of ships at port
• Requiring emissions testing for vehicles
• Adding particle traps for vehicles that filter emissions
• Requiring the use of cleaner fuels
• Limiting the use of biomass burning in urban and non-urban areas
• Requiring permits to operate industrial or power plants that limit
black carbon emissions
Technology
A clean burning, efficient cookstove can reduce smoke and emissions by 80%
Technology
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF): One method for filtering diesel exhaust to
reduce black carbon. As the exhaust is forced through the filters’ cell walls,
the soot is trapped. At high temps, the trapped soot is burned up.
Ways to Reduce Black Carbon
 Some strategies include:
Using clean diesel technologies for engines.
Taking mass transit or riding a bike whenever
possible.
Switching to safe, efficient cookstoves.
Using sustainable agriculture that reduces crop
burning and slash and burn methods.
Reducing trash-burning practices.
Supporting strong black carbon regulations.
Educating people on the issue of black carbon!