black carbon

noun

: a granular form of pure carbon that is the primary component of soot

But soot—also known as black carbon—from tens of thousands of villages like this one in developing countries is emerging as a major and previously unappreciated source of global climate change.

—Elisabeth Rosenthal, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2009

The chief culprit in global warming is carbon dioxide, but recent studies show that black carbon may account for as much as half of Arctic warming.

—Bill Walker, In Brief, Summer 2009

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

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