Increasing Black Carbon on North American Glaciers Portends Faster Loss

Communications Earth & Environment, 15 July 2025

North American glaciers have rapidly retreated over the last decade, with increasing black carbon accumulation driving 31% of glacier melting in western North America and 41% in the Canadian Arctic. The study measured the influence of snow and ice darkening on 25 of the largest and most heavily glaciated regions in North America. Glaciers warm faster when dark particulate matter lands on their surface, absorbing more solar heat. Industrial activities including oil and gas field flaring, diesel combustion, agricultural and wildland fires and woodstove use all produce regional black carbon. Researchers found that even a 0.5 °C increase in summer temperatures correlates with significant darkening and altered snowpack structure in North American glaciated regions. Projected increases in air temperature this century will also increase the size and frequency of wildfires, generating multi-year impacts since wildfire soot can persist on glaciers and increase melt by up to 10% several years after desposition.

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