• A study by Climate Trends shows rising black carbon (BC) levels in the Himalayas are accelerating snow surface heating, with serious implications for glacier melt and downstream water security.
• The Himalayas, often termed the “Third Pole”, are crucial for water security, glacial stability, and climate balance across South Asia.

Key Findings of the Study

• Warming Snow Surfaces: Snow surface temperature increased from -11.27°C (2000–2009) to -7.13°C (2020–2023).
  • Eastern Himalayas experienced the warmest snow surfaces, followed by Central and Western Himalayas.
• Glacier and Water Security Impact: Accelerated glacier melt threatens freshwater supplies to nearly 2 billion people downstream.
  • Melting onset is advancing, and snow season duration is shortening, impacting rivers, agriculture, and ecosystems.
• Snow Depth Paradox: Despite rising temperatures, snow depth increased from 0.059 m (2000–2009) to 0.117 m (2020–2023).
  • Reasons include:
    • Increased snowfall
    • Seasonal precipitation shifts
    • Wind redistribution of snow
  • Western Himalayas showed highest snow depths due to its higher elevations and greater exposure to western disturbances that bring winter precipitation.

Black Carbon as catalyst to global warming:

• Black carbon (BC): A short-lived climate pollutant, mainly from biomass burning, vehicle emissions, stoves, and open fires.
• Unlike other aerosols that deflect sunlight, BC absorbs solar radiation and reduces snow albedo, leading to:
  • Increased snowmelt
  • Surface warming
  • Hydrological disruptions

Sources of Black Carbon

• The Indo-Gangetic plain is a hotspot of BC emissions.
• Major sources:
• • Biomass burning
  • Fossil fuel combustion
  • Forest and agricultural fires 
• Biofuel use alone contributes ~42% of India’s BC emissions.

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