Scientists have discovered a hidden source of snow melting: dark brown carbon.

Forest fires leave behind powerful climate heaters - particles that increase the absorption of sunlight and heat the atmosphere. Thrown on the snow like a woolen poncho, these aerosols darken and reduce the reflectivity of the surface of snow-covered places.

Underestimated snow melting as a result of smoke deposition from forest fires, and this study will provide more accurate climate models and measurements. As large-scale forest fires become more widespread, politicians will have to figure out how to mitigate this form of carbon to reduce abnormal snow melting. Although d-BrC absorbs slightly less light than black carbon, it compensates for this amount by being four times more common in forest fire plumes compared to BC.

The team plans to continue documenting the real effects of d-BrC at work when they enter the experimental phase of research. How to experiment with snow aerosol without going out into the field? In this case, they get a four-foot-high snow globe for the laboratory.

"We will dump sprayed drops of water into the upper part of the chamber, creating snow, and then spray aerosols on it," Cheluboyina said.