In a recent study conducted by NASA and Chinese scientists revealed that temperatures are rising over the Tibetan Plateau, causing glaciers to melt at a faster-than-normal rate. The main cause has been traced to concentrations of black soot that pollute the air, turning the snow and ice black, absorbing sunlight, and melting.

During the ice core study, climate scientists from NASA used satellite and ground imagery to study air pollutants and weather patterns that affect the glaciers. The presence black carbon soot in the air has increased over that region since the 1990s, and the satellite imagery shows the densest affected areas are over the Chinese coastal plain and India.

James Hansen, NASA climate scientist and a co-author of the study has said that “emissions of greenhouse gases and black soot will result in the loss of most Himalayan glaciers this century” if changes are not made.

Read more about the study on the US News website.