The ECOMAPS project has done another step towards its goal to understand how atmospheric pollution and climate change are intrinsically connected!
The research groups of Ana Kroflič from Kemijski Inštitut and Asta Gregorič from Aerosol have successfully completed installation of two additional Aethalometers in Ljubljana, Slovenia last week. The instruments will monitor concentrations of atmospheric Black Carbon (BC) in real time for at least one full year, resulting in the collection of a long dataset of BC data, which will be used to improve understanding of air pollution in the city of Ljubljana. A similar dataset will be also collected in Italy close to Venice.
But what is BC, and why is it so important? BC, commonly known as soot, is a particulate air pollutant emitted during the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. It is considered a climate-forcing agent, meaning it contributes to climate change through multiple mechanisms, from directly absorbing sunlight, to altering atmospheric heating patterns, and influencing cloud and precipitation processes. These effects lead to significant atmospheric warming. Beyond its climate impact, BC is also associated with adverse health effects, making it a critical focus for both environmental and public health research.
Big thanks to PGD Lipoglav and PGD Sostro for supporting us with their infrastructure!
