Abstract ID: 3.13486 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

While temperature anomalies are the primary drivers of glacial and polar ice melt, aerosols play a significant yet less explored role in accelerating this process. Black carbon (BC) and secondary organic aerosols (SOAs), transported over long distances, deposit onto ice surfaces, reducing albedo and enhancing radiative forcing. This leads to increased absorption of solar radiation, triggering feedback mechanisms that further amplify regional warming. Understanding the role of aerosols in glacial melt is essential for improving climate projections and mitigation strategies. This study aims to quantify aerosol deposition and its impact on ice melt using a combination of satellite remote sensing, reanalysis datasets, and atmospheric transport modeling. MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data, along with MERRA-2 and ERA5 reanalysis, will provide spatial and temporal trends of aerosol presence over glaciated regions. HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis will identify potential source regions contributing to aerosol deposition in polar and high-altitude glacier environments. To assess radiative effects, the SNICAR model (Snow, Ice, and Aerosol Radiation model) will simulate surface albedo changes due to BC and SOA accumulation, improving our understanding of aerosol-induced cryosphere feedbacks. By integrating observational datasets with transport modeling, this research aims to establish a framework for assessing the role of anthropogenic and natural aerosol sources in glacial melt. The findings will help refine climate models and contribute to targeted policy recommendations for emission controls, particularly in the areas where aerosol impacts on the cryosphere remain insufficiently constrained.