Omsk's Black Snow: Ecologist Explains Why

Professor Sergei Kostarev, an ecologist from Omsk State Transport University (OmGUPS), explained to NGS55.RU why black snow fell in Omsk, which was even noticed in the 300th Anniversary Park. According to the expert, the snow turned ash-grey both on the outskirts and in the city center. No neighborhood is immune to this.

“I am not surprised because the emission plume from thermal power plants (TPPs) travels dozens of kilometers. So the whole city is grey. Today I was driving and saw that the roads are black. Although it seems there is no reason. I think it is due to the TPPs, stove heating, and possibly industrial enterprises. But industrial enterprises to a lesser extent, because their pollutants are not that color. So after all, it is probably the heating system — thermal power engineering,” the professor said.

To reliably determine the emission sources, according to Sergei Kostarev, chemical analyses of the ash are needed. The expert added that no district of the city is safe from such “precipitation.”

“The snow also turns black in the center — for example, near the Pushkin Library it is like that,” added the professor.

Another reason for the appearance of contaminated snowdrifts is the failure of enterprises to comply with adverse weather conditions regulations, when emissions “settle” directly in the city.

Previously, we reported on unpleasant odors that residents of the Chkalovsky settlement complained about.