The Albedo effect
A reading that describes the albedo effect of black carbon and how it affects the nature and formation of clouds, resulting in both, a warming and cooling effect on the Earth’s surface.
Reading: Black Carbon and Warming: It’s Worse than We Thought
Use the feature article, ‘Black Carbon and Warming: It’s Worse than We Thought’, by Carl Zimmer in YaleEnvironment360, published by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, to discuss a report that suggests that black carbon is second only to carbon dioxide in its heat trapping power.
Use the reading to explain to your students, the various ways in which clouds are affected by soot or black carbon.
Discuss how the albedo effect of black carbon, especially in clouds, affects Earth’s atmosphere as well as its surface temperatures.
Emphasize how black carbon deposition is speeding up the melting of Himalayan Glaciers.
Finally, explain why a reduction in black carbon emissions could cause an immediate slowdown of the planet’s warming.