Black carbon accelerating glacier meltdown in Tibetan Plateau

Fossil fuel and biomass which are sources of black carbon are accelerating glacier meltdown across the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau, a new research report has found.
The report by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Stockholm University found varying contributions from fossil fuel and biomass combustion to black carbon in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.
In the remote, northern plateau, black carbon is predominantly derived from the burning of fossil fuel, while fossil fuel contributions to black carbon in the snow pits of the inner plateau region are lower, implying contributions from internal sources, such as yak dung combustion, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying.

The study showed an approximately equal influence of biomass combustion sources within the southern Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas that mainly stem from emissions from the Indo-Gangetic Plain, it said.
The study provided data for further analysis of air transporting black carbon and information that can be used by policymakers addressing glacier melting and emissions, Kang Shichang, one of the authors of the report and a researcher with the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the CAS said.
It indicated pollution from burning yak dung for cooking or heating among herdsmen and farmers in some areas of the plateau might be higher than first imagined, Kang said.

In Tibet, about 74 per cent of the autonomous region's population live in rural area, many of whom use yak or sheep dung as a heat source.

The region aims to replace traditional energy sources with electricity to reduce pollution.
The wider use of electricity will save 177,000 tonnes of coal and cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 400,000 tonnes in the next five years, according to the regional energy substitution plan for 2016-2020.
The plan, which is backed by 2.2 billion yuan USD (329 million) will focus on on construction, transportation and domestic life, including improving accessibility to electric cookers, boilers, heaters and vehicle, the report said.

The report was published in "Nature Communications" on August 23.