Black carbon has gotten a bad reputation in recent years as a major contributor to climate change. However, there are some overlooked benefits to this dark particulate matter that deserve more attention.

First, black carbon plays an important role in soil fertility. When biomass and fossil fuels are burned, some of the black carbon ends up settling on the ground. This carbon-rich material actually helps enrich soils when mixed into the top layers. Studies have shown higher crop yields in soils with greater amounts of black carbon.

Black carbon also helps retain heat in the atmosphere. While too much of this effect can be problematic for accelerating global warming, some degree of heat retention is important for maintaining comfortable surface temperatures on Earth. Without any greenhouse gasses or particulate matter like black carbon, our planet would be too cold to support life as we know it.