soot or black carbon particles combine with other aerosols to influence climate. The magnitude of the climate forcing caused directly or indirectly by black carbon exceeds that caused by methane, suggesting that black carbon may be the second most important component of global warming after carbon dioxide.

Mark Z Jacobson, researcher at the department of civil and environmental engineering at the Stanford University, California, usa, has simulated the combination of soot particles with other aerosols present in the atmosphere to find out how soot affects climate change. Black carbon particles are generated by burning diesel and coal as well as by waste incinerators and charcoal burners.

The study shows that large positive component of the climate forcing from aerosols is due to black carbon