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Black Carbon

Black carbon - the sooty fraction of PM - is a major short-lived climate forcer, particularly damaging when deposited on Arctic ice and snow. The IMO is developing control measures for ships operating in or near the Arctic.

PollutantsShort-lived climate forcer
PM factor
0.875g/kWh
BC fraction of PM
0.35
~35 % of PM mass is black carbon
Annual black carbon
14.71t
Black carbon fraction by engine type
EngineBC / PM
Slow-speed diesel (SSD)45 %
Medium-speed diesel (MSD)35 %
High-speed diesel (HSD)25 %
LNG dual-fuel10 %

Values from the IMO PPR sub-committee working documents. BC forcing (GWP20 ≈ 460 per the IPCC AR6) makes it consequential out of proportion to its mass share.