The effect of light-absorbing particles on the deglaciation of glaciers in the polar and mountainous territories

Light-absorbing particles are among the most important factors leading to the deglaciation of glaciers. In light-absorbing particle reseaches, black carbon is most commonly mentioned. It is one of the short-lived climate-relevant factors and is generated by incomplete fossil fuel combustion, emissions of transport and industrial diesel engines, and forest fires and agricultural waste incineration. Falling on the cover of glaciers, black carbon reduces the albedo of the surface, which in turn leads to their heating and further thawing. This is extremely important for polar and mountainous regions. Therefore, this work is devoted to the influence of black carbon on the deglaciation of glaciers of polar regions, on the example of Antarctica and mountain regions, on the example of the Central Caucasus. The paper shows that while some authors consider Antarctica 's ice cover to be increasing, many authors disagree with this claim and the vast majority of the works point to their reduction. The main reason for the reduction of Antarctic ice is considered to be the increase in temperature due to global warming, but also many authors point to the influence of various light-matching substances, such as black carbon, settling on the surface and reducing the albedo of the ice sheet, thus causing them to melt. As for the works devoted to mountain glaciers of the Central Caucasus, there are no contradictions in them at the expense of changing the balance of glaciers. All works indicate the gradual thawing of glaciers, which has accelerated over the past 60 years. There is currently one single work in the literature on black carbon in the Central Caucasus. It shows data obtained from ice cores drilled on the high mountain site of Elbrus. The paper states that in the first half of the 20th century, anthropogenic emissions from Europe led to an increase in black carbon concentrations on Elbrus, 1.5 times its level in the pre-industrial era (before 1850). Interesting data came from the core layer for 2003, which showed the presence of maximum concentration and larger black carbon particles this year. In turn, other researchers who also worked with this core noted that it was in 2003 that there was an intense melting of snow. On the basis of all the above, it can be assumed that information on concentrations and sizes of light-containing particles can provide important information necessary for determining melting of glaciers in polar and mountain regions.