Could reduced reflectivity hasten the recession of glaciers and ice-fields?
Theoretically, yes, but… …no such dust and soot (in significant amounts) has been detected. So whereas this theory has been put forward in the past – and researchers keep their eyes open for this – it has not been observed and therefore is not thought to be ‘contributing to the melt’. More relevant to the issue of reduced reflectivity is the self-reinforcing issue: As glaciers and ice-fields decrease in area, the amount of sunlight reflected (both planet-wide and locally) is reduced that then increases the rate of melting leading to even less reflection leading to more melting…
