Black carbon pollution in Antarctica

"Snow is turning black in Antarctica, and increasing numbers of tourists and research trips could be to blame, scientists say. Cruise and research ships burn fuel to make their journeys, and in the process they produce an air pollutant known as black carbon. It comes from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood and other fuels, and it’s the particle that gives soot its colour. Not only is it darkening the snow in Antarctica, but it’s also making it melt sooner around tourist landing sites and research stations . . . White snow reflects the sun’s rays in a process known as the albedo effect – a measure of how well a surface reflects solar energy. However, black carbon absorbs sunlight and converts it to heat. This is shrinking the Antarctic snowpack by up to 23 millimetres a year . . . Because it absorbs light and heats its surroundings, black carbon warms the atmosphere. This makes it one of the biggest contributors to global warming after carbon dioxide."