A University of Kashmir study reveals that black carbon from diesel exhaust, brick kilns, and biomass burning is coating glaciers in the Himalayas. This soot reduces the albedo effect, causing the ice to absorb more solar radiation and melt faster. Researchers found that glaciers in the region have lost over 20 percent of their area over nearly three decades. This rapid recession threatens regional water security, as these glaciers feed the rivers and streams used for agriculture and hydropower. Because black carbon stays in the atmosphere for a shorter time than CO2, reducing local emissions from transport and industry could provide a faster way to slow ice loss.
