Black Carbon Research Initiative launched under National Carbonaceous Aerosols Programme (NCAP)

'Black Carbon Research Initiative - Science Plan’ of the National Carbonaceous Aerosols Programme being devised under the aegis of the Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) that was launched last year. The issue of ‘black carbon’ and its relationship with climate change has gained enormous scientific and popular interest over the last few years.

The knowledge and understanding on aspects such as vertical distribution and mixing of Black Carbon with other aerosols, effects of cloud cover and monsoon still remains uncertain and incomplete. There is thus a need to have better understanding on the following science questions:

• The contribution of black carbon aerosols to regional warming.
• Role of black carbon on atmospheric stability and the consequent effect on cloud formation and monsoon.
• Role of black carbon in altering the ability of hygroscopic aerosols to act as cloud condensation nuclei.
• Role of BC-Induced low-level temperature inversions and their role in formation of fog especially over
• northern India.
• Role of black carbon on Himalayan glacier retreat.

The Black Carbon research initiative builds on this approach and sets out the science program and to respond to the scientific questions. The science plan has been developed through an intensive consultative process and with the involvement of experts in the subject and builds upon the work of ISRO, MoES and other experts. The initiative is visualised as an ambitious programme with the involvement of over 101 institutions with 60 observatories nationwide. The study would lead to:

1. Long-term monitoring of aerosols
2. Monitoring of impact of BC on snow and
3. Estimating magnitude of BC sources using inventory (bottom-up) and inverse modelling (top-down) approaches,
4. Modelling BC atmospheric transport and climate impact.

Background of INCCA

The knowledge and understanding of implications of climate change at the national level is inadequate and fragmentary. The Minister for Environment and Forests on October 14, 2009 announced the launch of the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), which has been conceptualized as a Network-based Scientific Programme designed to:

• Assess the drivers and implications of climate change through scientific research.
• Prepare climate change assessments once every two years (GHG estimations and impacts of climate change, associated vulnerabilities and adaptation).
• Develop decision support systems.
• Build capacity towards management of climate change related risks and opportunities.