The Environment Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Indian Space Research Organisation has embarked on a research plan to assess the impact of black carbon aerosols on climate change.

Black carbon is the soot released in the atmosphere due to combustion of bio-fuels such as wood, dung, crop residue, diesel and coal among others. Aerosols are suspended particulates in the atmosphere.

The five-year Black Carbon Research Initiative was launched by the Environment Minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday. About 65 observatories with an investment of Rs 200 crore would be set up across the country and some 101 research institutions would be involved in the study, Mr Ramesh said.

“I hope that this programme would really provide solid scientific foundation for our issues,” Mr Ramesh added.

Devised under the aegis of the Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), the black carbon research plan is the third major study being carried out by the Indian scientists.

The study will not only enhance the knowledge and understanding of the role of black carbon in the context of global warming, but also to address the sources and impacts of the black carbon on the melting of glaciers, Mr Ramesh said.

“There is a complete difference in behaviour of Himalayan glaciers and Arctic glaciers, which needs to be studied. And we need to establish our own scientific capacity to understand this change,” Mr Ramesh said.

The study would lead to long-term monitoring of aerosols, monitoring the impact of black carbon on snow and modelling of black carbon atmospheric transport and climate impact.

Further, Mr Ramesh also said that INCAA will publish the impact of climate change in 16 agro-climatic zones of India by end of this year.

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