In March, scientists in California and Iowa argued soot is second only to carbon dioxide as a contributor to global warming.
Then, last week, a research team led by Texas A&M University atmospheric scientists found soot particles are far more reactive with other pollutants in the atmosphere than previously thought.
After mingling with sulfuric acid, a common pollutant from power plants, the scientists found that soot inhibits the formation of clouds, perhaps reducing coverage in Houston by as much as 20 percent and diminishing the chances of rain.
The work should have important implications for air quality in regions such as Houston, where there are many sources of soot, including diesel trucks, as well as electricity-generating facilities that produce pollutants that modify soot.
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