The glaciers are melting because of air pollution.
A group of Russian and European scientists conducted a study which showed that the main reason for the melting of the snow and ice cover in the Arctic is transport pollution, press service of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU).
The study was conducted by a group of scientists of TPU and the Pacific Oceanological Institute in collaboration with Stockholm University and other European partners.
Previously it was thought that the main cause of global warming are the burning of associated gas (gas flaring), thermal power plants and forest fires. However, scientists, after two years of observation, found that the major source of black carbon (thanks to him, the white snow and ice reflect solar radiation) is a traffic pollution is occurring mainly due to the transport of polluted air transport from the European part of Russia.
“Research was conducted on the basis of the Polar geocomposites Observatory, located on the shore of the Arctic ocean, near the village of Tiksi. This location was chosen as a background, based on the maximum remoteness from modern industrial centers. The obtained results came as a surprise to our research team,” – are reported words of the head of the International laboratory for the study of carbon cycle TPU, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Igor Semiletov.
Scientists suggest that gas flares in the atmosphere goes up to 6% of the black carbon from forest fires up to 12% from thermal power plants – 9%. The main contribution of the transport (38%) and local sources (35%), which include the organization and agriculture, burning of wood and coal.
“To Refine these estimates, the planned new series of joint with the Stockholm University research focus on the role of gas torches, a significant number of which are located in the lower reaches of the great Siberian river Ob. The results of our study may change the basic understanding of the role of black carbon in the functioning of the fragile climate system of the Arctic that gives a chance for the development of meaningful measures to mitigate the effect of expected consequences”, – quotes the press service of the Department of Geology and mineral exploration TPU Natalia Shakhov.
A new study, expected to begin in 2018.
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