Black carbon is formed in incomplete combustion. The biggest emission sources in Europe and Northern America are households that burn solid fuels for heating and diesel engines in the transport sector. In developing countries also solid fuel combustion in cooking stoves and traditional coke and brick making kilns are significant emission sources.
Residential heating and diesel transport biggest sources in Europe
The formation mechanism of black carbon is reflected in its main source types, in which the combustion process is often poorly managed and inefficient. In Europe the biggest anthropogenic sources of black carbon are heating of household by burning solid fuels as well as combustion engines used in the transport sector. In the European Union these sectors are together estimated to comprise over 90 percent of the anthropogenic emissions of black carbon.
Traditional industries and agricultural waste burning also important globally
Globally household cooking and transport sectors are also the most important activities explaining 75 percent of the anthropogenic emissions, but they are accompanied by brick and coke making in traditional kilns and ovens as well as burning of agricultural wastes. Important natural sources of black carbon are forest and grassland fires, which are estimated to add 3-4 Tg of black carbon annually to the atmosphere an amount that comprises about 40 percent of the total emissions of black carbon to the atmosphere.
Photo: Raili Malinen
