Black carbon in Antarctica

Our recent study in Nature Communications showed that the human fingerprint could be identified even in remote Antarctica. Recently, tourist and research activities have grown, particularly in the Antarctic peninsula. Internal combustion engines of vessels, aircraft, power plants, generators, helicopters, and trucks produce soot.

We found that the snow around research facilities and tourist-landing sites is darker than elsewhere in the continent. Deposition of black carbon onto snow-covered surfaces reduces the albedo and accelerates melting. Despite the strict precautions adopted by tour operators and scientists working in Antarctica, local black carbon emissions are accelerating seasonal snowmelt in impacted areas.