ShareThis
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) continues to grapple with the emerging shipping emissions problem of black carbon. An IMO sub-committee of the MEPC working on the problem has been unable to agree measures to the reduce the pollutant in a meeting in early February. Some member states have raised procedural objections to the way the matter is being handled, halting further progress.
Black carbon is soot or smoke that consists of small particles of burnt material, in pollution jargon they are one form of what is termed particulate matter (PM). While there has not been great environmental concern over emissions of black carbon from ships falling on the open ocean, scientific research suggests that in polar regions it can have a significant negative impact.
The polar ice caps reflect a very high percentage of solar radiation back out into space, acting as an important planet-cooling mechanism. Scientists say the shrinkage of ice caps is already undermining this process and contributing to global warming. They further warn that emissions of black carbon PM in the Arctic that settle on the ice floes will reduce the reflective capacity of the ice that remains. A particle of surface ice will reflect almost all radiation that strikes it, while black matter will absorb almost all.
Recent years have seen global warming increase the rate of Arctic summer thaw to the point where new shipping lanes are opening up that have not previously been considered commercially viable. Shipping lines are eyeing new and shorter intercontinental routes across the Arctic Ocean north of Russia and through the Canadian Arctic.
The issue of black carbon....
Complete Story at:
http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=2266
No comments:
Post a Comment