Black Carbon (BC):
-
Black carbon(BC) is a short-lived climate pollutant.
-
It is the second-largest contributor to warming the planet after carbon dioxide(CO2).
-
Black carbon is formed through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuel, and biomass.
-
Primary sources include emissions from diesel engines, cook stoves, wood burning and forest fires.
-
Black carbon can have significant direct and indirect impacts on the climate as it influences cloud formation and atmospheric heat absorption processes.
Other types of Carbon:
-
Blue Carbon: It refers to coastal, aquatic and marine carbon sinks held by vegetation, marine organisms, and sediments.
-
Green Carbon: It is the carbon that is stored in terrestrial ecosystems such as forests, pastures, and soils.
-
Brown Carbon: It is a light-absorbing particle in the Earth’s atmosphere that has the unique characteristics of both cooling the planet’s surface and warming its atmosphere.