
The spread of black carbon around the globe. (credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio)
Black carbon particles are composed of pure carbon, linked via several types of bonds. The particles are formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass. When they're suspended in the atmosphere, these particles can mix with other aerosols, including organics and sulfates, and they can directly absorb sunlight. So once in the air, black carbon can both influence the climate and impact air quality.
Once suspended in the atmosphere, black carbon's warming effect can last days to weeks; it also absorbs a broad range of light. However, it is still unclear whether this absorption changes as the particles undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere—changes that could have big implications for its influence on the climate.
Now, an international team of scientists developed an environmental chamber that allowed them to study the evolution of black carbon's properties in the atmosphere. They tested their new technique on pollution from cities in the US and China.