| In the frenzied search for solutions to the global | | | | that wood smoke’s fine particulates thin |
| warming crisis, climatologists, policy makers and | | | | clouds. And as total airborne particulates increase, |
| other concerned environmentalists have | | | | cloud cover decreases, allowing more sunlight to |
| overlooked one of the leading causes of rising | | | | reach the earth. According to Ramanathan, |
| temperatures around the globe—soot---the | | | | approximately 35 percent of black carbon in the |
| black residue that coats fireplaces and darkens | | | | global atmosphere comes from China and India. |
| vehicle exhaust. Black carbon soot may in fact | | | | Yet per capita emissions of black carbon soot |
| be the second largest contributor to global | | | | from the United States and some European |
| warming next to the greenhouse gas carbon | | | | countries is still comparable to those from Asia. |
| dioxide. | | | | Ramanathan's research also found that the |
| According to Stanford environmental engineering | | | | warming effects of black carbon smog appear to |
| Professor Mark Z. Jacobson, “Soot, or black | | | | be accelerating the melt of Himalayan |
| carbon, may be responsible for 15 to 30 percent | | | | glaciers, leading to early drying of a major |
| of global warming, yet it is not even considered in | | | | source of drinking water for billions of people |
| any of the discussions about controlling climate | | | | throughout Asia. |
| change.” (“Nature”, ScienceDaily, Feb. | | | | |
| 9, 2001). Jacobson also observed that human | | | | The International Global Panel on Climate Change |
| beings produce most of the soot particles that | | | | (IGPCC) agreed that black carbon soot is a major |
| pollute the atmosphere. He maintains that soot | | | | contributor to global warming |
| consists primarily of elemental carbon and that 90 | | | | The 2007 Nobel-winning IGPCC panel of |
| percent of it comes from the consumption of | | | | approximately two thousand scientists concluded |
| fossil fuels (particularly coal, diesel fuel, jet fuel, | | | | that black carbon soot has a dire atmospheric |
| natural gas, kerosene) and the burning of wood | | | | warming effect. This was significant because |
| and other biomass. Jacobson also claims that a | | | | soot had previously been unaddressed as a major |
| worldwide reduction in soot emissions and | | | | contributor to global warming. Nor had the |
| controlling biomass burning could quell the alarming | | | | amplification of black carbon’s warming effect |
| pace of global warming and also reduce our | | | | previously been taken into account when mixed |
| reliance on soot-producing fuels. ( | | | | with other aerosols, creating additional secondary |
| Besides its impact on global warming, soot is bad | | | | fine particulates. |
| for your health. The World Health Organization | | | | Studies of fine particulates from wood smoke in |
| reports that approximately 2.7 million people die | | | | various communities |
| each year from air pollution and that reduction of | | | | An EPA study cites that “In some |
| wood and other biomass burning would mitigate | | | | neighborhoods, on some days, 90% of the |
| global warming and would also save lives and | | | | particle pollution is from residential wood |
| improve people’s health. | | | | burning.” (Jane Koenig and Timothy Larson, A |
| Other studies have dispelled the myth that burning | | | | Summary of Emissions Characterization and |
| wood and other biomass is “green or carbon | | | | Non-Cancer Respiratory Effects of Wood Smoke, |
| neutral” and that the fine particulates emitted | | | | USEPA DOC #453/R-93-036,1-919-541-0888). |
| during the combustion process actually hasten | | | | A study in two San Jose, California locations |
| climate change. ( under both “Science” and | | | | showed that wood smoke pollution was 4.4 times |
| “Global Warming” headings). | | | | that of gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles. (“A |
| The warming effect of black carbon soot is far | | | | Comparison of Source Apportionments of Fine |
| greater than previously estimated | | | | Particulate Matter at Two San Jose, CA |
| Atmospheric scientist V. Ramanathan of the | | | | Locations,” from San Jose Speciation Trends |
| Scripps Institution of Oceanography and University | | | | Network.) |
| of Iowa chemical engineer Greg Carmichael found | | | | The next step |
| that “black carbon soot, from burning wood | | | | Because the urgency of reducing black carbon |
| and other biomass, cooking with solid fuels, and | | | | emissions cannot be overstated, reducing soot |
| diesel exhaust has a warming effect in the | | | | from wood smoke would offer nearly instant |
| atmosphere three to four times greater than | | | | benefits in improving atmospheric conditions in the |
| prevailing estimates.” (Nature Geoscience 1, | | | | United States. It would also offer immediate |
| 221-227 (March 24, 2008). They calculated that | | | | societal and health benefits. This would facilitate |
| soot and other forms of black carbon particulates | | | | political and regulatory momentum towards |
| may represent as much as 60 percent of the | | | | mitigation of black carbon emissions. |
| current global warming effect of carbon dioxide | | | | It is urgent to advance public awareness of wood |
| and their findings correlated with similar studies | | | | smoke’s crucial role in global warming with |
| from Stanford, Caltech, and NASA. | | | | education and policy changes. |
| A simplified explanation for the warming effect is | | | | |