Odd pink snow in the Alps is pretty, but it might also be a red flag
Pink snow in the Presena glacier.
Miguel Medina / Getty Images
According to researcher Biagio Di Mauro from the Institute for Polar Sciences of the Italian National Research Council, pink snow, also known as “watermelon snow”, has appeared on the Presena glacier in northern Italy. While it is not uncommon for the Italian Alps to be “pretty pink” in spring and summer, scientists are cautious when the phenomenon caused by algae occurs more frequently.
Di Mauro told CNN that the lack of snowfall in 2020 and higher temperatures have encouraged algal growth. More algae can cause the ice to melt faster.
When Di Mauro tweeted an explanation for an article from The Guardian, he said the algae were probably Chlamydomonas nivalis, a snow algae. He also said that the relationship of algae to climate change has not yet been proven.
Di Mauro tweeted photos of pink snow on Monday.
Over the ocean, late May, Antarctica reported green snowcaused by microscopic algae. Although microscopic, the green flowers could be spotted by satellites. The color could also be linked to the effects of the warming climate, researchers said.
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