The mysterious black dust speeding up Arctic ice melt: What's behind it?
This year, Canada has experienced one of its most severe wildfire seasons on record. According to the
Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
, over 18 million hectares have burned so far in 2025, surpassing last year's devastating fires. The blazes have sent vast plumes of smoke and soot—known as black carbon—across North America and into the Arctic Circle.
Why soot matters in the Arctic?
Soot is a powerful climate forcer. When it settles on ice and snow, it reduces their reflectivity, or albedo, causing them to absorb more sunlight instead of reflecting it back into space. This leads to faster warming and melting—a process scientists call the 'albedo effect.' According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, even a thin layer of
black carbon
can reduce snow's reflectivity by as much as 10%.
Dr. Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, explains:
'The Arctic is like the planet's air conditioner. When soot from wildfires lands on ice, it turbocharges melting. This creates a feedback loop: less ice means more warming, which means more fires and more soot.'
Live Events
Satellite imagery from
NASA
's MODIS instrument shows a marked increase in darkened snow and ice surfaces across the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Greenland's southern coast this summer. Preliminary data from the European Space Agency's Copernicus program indicate that concentrations of black carbon in the Arctic atmosphere have risen by over 30% compared to the 2010-2020 average.
A recent study published in
Nature Communications
found that
wildfire soot
could account for up to 25% of the Arctic's recent sea ice loss, a figure that is likely to increase as wildfires become more frequent and intense.
The consequences of accelerated Arctic melting are profound. Melting sea ice not only raises global sea levels but also disrupts weather patterns worldwide. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
(IPCC) warns that rapid Arctic warming could destabilize the jet stream, leading to more extreme weather events across the Northern Hemisphere.
Scientists are calling for urgent action to both curb greenhouse gas emissions and address the growing threat of wildfire soot. Enhanced monitoring, improved wildfire management, and international cooperation will be critical in protecting the Arctic's fragile climate system.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
‘Silent killers': Climate change made European heatwaves deadlier; temperatures up by 4°C
Climate change made European heatwaves deadlier; temperatures up by 4°C Human-induced climate change made the recent heatwaves across Europe significantly more intense, with temperatures in many cities up to 4°C higher than they would have been without global warming, according to a recent study. Researchers from five European institutions studied 12 cities, including major capitals such as Paris, London and Madrid, which have a combined population of over 30 million. They concluded that additional heat likely led to a higher number of heat-related deaths than would have occurred in a cooler climate, scientists said on Wednesday, reported AFP. The findings raise fresh concerns about the increasing risks to public health, particularly for vulnerable groups. Heatwaves spanned from late June to early July, saw temperatures soar past 40°C in several European countries, setting new records and triggering health warnings. According to the EU's climate monitor Copernicus, June was the hottest on record in western Europe. The extreme heat forced the closure of schools and tourist attractions in many areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dukung Orang Terkasih Menghadapi Limfoma: Mulai Di Sini Limfoma Klik Di Sini Undo Analysis of historical weather data revealed that, in all but one of the 12 cities studied, the temperatures would have been 2–4°C cooler without the influence of human-caused climate change. 'What that does is it brings certain groups of people into more dangerous territory,' said Ben Clarke, a researcher from Imperial College London, which co-led the study along with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 'For some people, it's still warm, fine weather. But for now a huge sector of the population, it's more dangerous,' he added. For the first time, the study also attempted to estimate the number of deaths attributable to the heatwave and the role climate change played. 'An increase in heatwave temperature of just two or four degrees can mean the difference between life and death for thousands of people,' said Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, a lecturer at Imperial College London. 'This is why heatwaves are known as silent killers. Most heat-related deaths occur in homes and hospitals out of public view and are rarely reported,' he added. The researchers were based in the UK, Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland, emphasised that their estimate was only a partial snapshot of the overall impact, as official figures are not yet available. Heatwaves pose the greatest danger to the elderly, children, the sick, outdoor workers and those without access to cooling or shade. Urban areas face heightened risks due to the heat island effect, where buildings and paved surfaces absorb and retain more heat than surrounding areas.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu's heat crisis: Either build sustainably or burn
As Tamil Nadu continues its breakneck urbanisation, a new decadal study commissioned by the State Planning Commission (SPC) has sounded alarm bells over rising land surface temperatures (LST) and worsening heat stress across the state. Titled 'Urban Growth and Thermal Stress: A Decadal Assessment of Built-Up Area and Climate Interactions in Tamil Nadu', the report reveals how unregulated urban expansion has created dangerous heat islands, strained infrastructure, and intensified ecological degradation in the last two decades. The study, which integrates high-resolution spatial data from MODIS LST, ERA5 air temperature records, and building footprint changes from 1985 to 2015, maps heat exposure at the block-level for all 389 blocks across Tamil Nadu. The results show 94 blocks have witnessed a steep rise in heat over the past 40 years, while 64 blocks currently suffer from temperatures well above the state average. Particularly vulnerable are 25 blocks—including those in Chennai, Karur, and Ramanathapuram—which fall into both categories, making them high-risk zones for future climate and health. The heat driver The report places rapid urbanisation at the heart of the problem. Between 1985 and 2015, Tamil Nadu witnessed unprecedented expansion in built-up areas, particularly in districts like Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Chengalpattu. For instance, S.S. Kulam block in Coimbatore more than doubled its built-up area from 62 sq km to 137 sq km—surpassing even Chennai, which expanded from 86 sq km to 131 sq km during the same period. More worryingly, when built-up area is analysed relative to a block's total geographical area, the percentage of land classified as 'built' has jumped alarmingly. In Chennai, this rose from 48 per cent to 74 per cent in just three decades, while St. Thomas Malai in Chengalpattu posted a 44 pc rise, the highest relative growth recorded. 'Heat stress is becoming one of the most tangible impacts of climate change. As urban areas expand, integrating heat considerations into planning is essential to safeguard communities and protect ecosystems. Mainstreaming Heat Action Plans at the city level is now a necessity,' said Sudha Ramen, Member Secretary and Head of Division (Land Use), SPC. Night-time heat: A silent killer One of the most significant findings of the report relates to night-time land surface temperature (nLST), a key indicator of retained heat in urban zones. Using satellite data from MODIS, the study shows that between 2000–2005 and 2018–2023, average nLST increased by nearly 4°C in many urban and peri-urban zones. Even Tier-II cities like Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, and Erode are seeing worrying upward trends, which could have serious health impacts. 'We often ignore how hot nights affect human health, both physical and mental. Sustained heat exposure after sunset reduces the body's ability to recover, increasing risks of dehydration, cardiovascular stress, and even mortality,' said Shweta Narayan, Campaign Lead, Global Climate and Health Alliance. The Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) used in the study reinforces this concern, with large areas in and around Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai falling in high thermal discomfort zones. Roughly 27 pc of the population is now residing in blocks with above-average night-time LST, putting them at prolonged risk.
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
Here's Why NASA Is Watching Volcanoes From Space
NASA is closely monitoring volcanoes from space to better understand and predict volcanic eruptions, which can have significant impacts on the environment, climate and human populations. NASA is also studying the changing tree leaves, which can indicate the eruption of a nearby volcano. Scientists believe they can detect these changes from space by monitoring these changes. The US-based space agency has deployed satellites and instruments to monitor the volcanoes, such as Landsat 8 and 9 gives high-resolution images of volcanic activity and ash deposits, Sentinel-5P tracks sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases, GOES-R Series provides real-time imagery of volcanic eruptions and ash clouds, MODIS monitors volcanic ash and aerosols in the atmosphere. Why Is Watching Volcanoes From Space Important? "Volcano early warning systems exist," volcanologist Florian Schwandner, chief of the Earth Science Division at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, who had teamed up with climate scientist Josh Fisher of Chapman University in Orange, California and volcanologist Robert Bogue of McGill University in Montreal a decade ago, said as quoted by NASA in a report published on May 15, 2025. "The aim here is to make them better and make them earlier." NASA reported that volcanic hazards pose a threat to approximately 10 per cent of the global population, particularly those living or working near active volcanoes and constant tracking can enable the authorities to prepare and respond accordingly. NASA's satellite instruments can detect volcanic ash and gases, such as sulfur dioxide, which can affect global climate patterns and pose hazards to aviation and human health. The observations also help to understand the climate impacts. Studying volcanoes from space helps scientists get a better understanding of geological processes, the Earth's interior and the interactions between volcanoes and the atmosphere.
