Why in news? ISRO Geosphere Biosphere Programme reported that long-term measurements of black carbon over the Indian region from regional network of aerosol observatories clearly shows a decreasing trend in the past decade.

Highlights

About Black Carbon

• It is a component of fine particulate matter and consists of pure carbon in several linked forms.
• Formation : Through the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuel, and biomass
• Occurring : Both anthropogenic and naturally occurring soot.
• Impact
• Human morbidity and premature mortality
• It is a climate forcing agent contributing to global warming
• Life : stays in the atmosphere for only several days to weeks
• Presence in
• Soil: Significantly contributes to fertility as it is able to absorb important plant nutrients especially in tropic
• Water : Soluble and colloidal black carbon retained on the landscape from wildfires can make its way to groundwater.
• Black carbon Hotspot areas include:
• The Indo-Gangetic plains of India
• Eastern China
• Most of Southeast Asia and Indonesia
• Equatorial regions of Africa
• Mexico and Central America
• Most of Brazil and Peru in South America.
• Source: Approximately 20% from burning biofuels, 40% from fossil fuels, and 40% from open biomass burning
• Biodegradation :
• Condensed aromatic ring structures indicate black carbon degradation in soil.
• Saprophytic fungi are being researched for their potential role in the degradation of black carbon.