surface coatings and a smaller core particle size distribution [17]. Even within the same source, varying combustion conditions can cause notable changes in the characteristics of black carbon [18; 19]. Compared with smoldering conditions, under flaming conditions, particulate matter is primarily composed of black carbon, which exhibits stronger light absorption [19]. On the other hand, during its transport, black carbon interacts with other atmospheric substances, leading to changes in its morphology and mixing state, and this diversity in transport processes objectively contributes to the variability in black-carbon properties [20; 21; 22; 23]. In the early 21 st century, simulation studies indicated that due to inaccuracies in estimating the mixing state of black carbon, there may have been significant underestimation of its radiative forcing [24]. Subsequently, numerous research studies focused on assessing the climate effects of black carbon, employing various methods including laboratory experiments, model simulations, and field observations to investigate the changes in properties of black carbon under different conditions [6; 25]. This multidimensional research has provided a substantial amount of scientific support for evaluating the climate effects of black carbon. However, there remains considerable uncertainty in estimating black-carbon radiative forcing [21; 22; 26; 27]. Additionally, studying black carbon in snow and ice also poses numerous challenges, including uncertainties in measurements, diversity in emission sources and transport processes, and the mixing state of black carbon with other substances [8]. Continuous research on black carbon, enhancing our understanding of its transformation processes, will contribute to elucidating its role in the climate system, thereby enabling a more precise assessment of its impact on the global climate. Bibliometric analysis, including the analysis of publications, citations, and assessments of relevant researchers and institutions, helps to identify the core literature and trace the evolution of scientific knowledge [28]. For example, [PERSON] et al. used VOSviewer to analyze more than 11,000 relevant publications, revealing core research themes in the field of climate change adaptation, such as vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and resilience [29]. The study visually demonstrated a significant upward trend in the climate change adaptation literature, particularly after 2010 [29]. The focus of research has gradually shifted from natural sciences to multidisciplinary studies that encompass human society, and the study also highlights the need for future research to emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, place-based studies, and issues of gender and social inequality [29]. The findings of such analyses are crucial for assessing the quality and quantity of research output. Moreover, this approach enables the examination of the evolution of the academic literature over time, fostering a deeper comprehension of scientific phenomena through the retrieval, identification, classification, and analysis of scholarly works. Although numerous studies and reviews have investigated the properties of black carbon and its climate effects over the past two decades, to our knowledge, there has been no bibliometric research specifically focusing on black carbon in the context of the climate. The objective of this study is to investigate the research trends and identify the main topics related to black carbon in the climate field through bibliometric analysis, aiming to offer a comprehensive overview of the field from a macroscopic perspective. Specifically, we retrieved the research literature on black carbon and the climate from the Web of Science Core Collection database, covering the period from 2000 to 2023. Our analysis included trends in publications, and exploration of countries, institutions, authors, keywords, and other relevant factors.