Advanced Solutions for Tracking Black Carbon

Black Carbon (BC), also known as soot, is a highly impactful pollutant emitted from incomplete combustion processes like burning fossil fuels, biomass, and waste. It ranks as the second largest man-made contributor to global warming, following closely behind carbon dioxide. Not only does black carbon pose significant risks to respiratory health, but it also contributes to climate change and negatively affects air quality on both local and global scales.

The Black Carbon Monitoring solutions offered by Met One Instruments Powered by Acoem help you quantify, monitor, and therefore take control of black carbon emissions. Our advanced technology and expertise offers a range of solutions to accurately measure and track Black Carbon emissions. This empowers you to make informed decisions and implement effective strategies for reducing this potent pollutant. Join us in fostering a cleaner and healthier future by monitoring Black Carbon sources, concentrations, and trends. Take the first step towards a more sustainable tomorrow.

What is Black Carbon and why is it important?

Black carbon is the sooty part of particulate matter (PM) formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. It is mostly emitted by vehicles, non-road mobile machinery such as forestry machines, ships, coal or wood burning stoves in homes. Another important source is open biomass burning including forest fires and agricultural waste burning. Black carbon, seen as soot it is categorized as a ‘short-lived’ climate pollutant but its negative impacts are both fast-acting and extensive—black carbon increases the melting of ice and glaciers, harms public health, reduces food security and disrupts weather patterns.

Of all air pollutants, PM is the most harmful to health. The black carbon part of PM is particularly harmful as it represents a mixture of very fine, partly carcinogenic particles, small enough to enter the bloodstream and reach other organs.

With the reduction of carbon dioxide taking a priority under the Kyoto Protocol, mitigating short-lived climate pollutants, such as black carbon, have taken a back seat with many organizations and governments. However, recent studies show that black carbon may be responsible for close to 20% of the planet’s warming, making it the second highest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide. This provides us with a real opportunity to make an immediate impact on climate change.