The University of Iowa has been awarded more than $895,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the effects of black carbon on global warming. The grant was part of more than $6.6 million in grants distributed to eight universities for the research. Black carbon is the sooty black material emitted from diesel-powered engines and vehicles and other sources that burn fossil fuels. Unlike greenhouse gases, which remain in the atmosphere for decades or centuries, black carbon particles only stay in the atmosphere for days or weeks. Therefore, reducing black carbon emissions could have a positive effect on the climate quickly, EPA officials said. The research will analyze the impacts of black carbon on air and water quality, investigate the behavior of black carbon aerosols in the atmosphere, and develop innovative tools such as computer models to look at black carbon deposits on snow.