lack carbon (BC) particles emit into the atmosphere during the combustion process, which can directly affect the radiation balance, leading to global warming. BC that deposited in the rivers, lakes, oceans and soils plays an important role in the global biogeochemical cycles. It became a hot topic in the international geoscience research. The definition, emissions, deposition and degradation processes of BC were reviewed, and its important role and research significance in the present and past environment and climate system were summarized. Future research should pay more attentions to standard measurement methods, and then the function of black carbon could be truly understood in the global climate and environment systems.