Do Particulates in Air Pollution Increase the Rate Ice Melts?

Overview

Global warming and air pollution are major problems that have the ability to affect the environment. Black carbon is a common particle in air pollution that can absorb sunlight and reduce ice’s ability to reflect sun rays. The focus of this project was to investigate black carbon’s ability to impact glacier and sea ice melting. The hypothesis of this project stated that black carbon and other particulates will increase the temperature of ice and increase the rate ice melts. Black carbon was simulated by crushed charcoal. Charcoal was added to water and frozen to create ice cubes. The ice cubes were placed under lights with their temperature and weight taken at 15 minute intervals. The ice cubes without charcoal melted fastest in 4 out of 5 trials. The ice cubes with charcoal had a faster increase in temperature and a higher final temperature in 4 out of 5 trials. Part of the experiment was refuted as the control melted faster. Part of the experiment was supported as the temperature of the ice cubes with charcoal increased faster and had a higher final temperature. The ice with charcoal increased in temperature faster and also had a higher final temperature, but did not have an increased melt rate. This shows that black carbon may increase the temperature of glaciers. Further experiments are needed to confirm black carbon’s role in glacier and sea ice melting.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Earth & Environmental Sciences (Track 2) (Junior Division) · Entry J-09-14

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