Pink Snow In Europe: Why 'Watermelon Snow' Could Be Accelerating Climate Change

Pink snow in Italy Alps and some parts of Europe is happening. However unearthly it may seem, is pink snowfall is a noted phenomenon that might look appealing at a glance.

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Scientists, however, warn that the seemingly captivating pink snowfall happening in Europe right now is a dangerous phenomenon.

That is because the snow gets its pink colour from algae. In a new report, scientists warn that this algae might be having an impact on the melting of the snow and glaciers in the mountain regions.

The report by Earther explains that the pink snow is ¡°usually a spring and summer phenomenon, requiring the right amount of light, warmth, and water to grow.¡± The algae are inactive while under the snow and ice. It is only once it starts melting that the pink colour becomes evident.

Pink snowfall in Italy and Europe

Biagio Di Mauro points to the pink snow on July 4, 2020, on the top of the Presena Glacier near Pellizzano. (Image: Miguel Medina / AFP; Getty Images)

The pink snow or the ¡°watermelon snow¡± was most recently observed on the Presena Glacier near Pellizzano in Italy earlier this week. It is, however, hardly the only one of its kinds experienced this year.

A few weeks ago, pink snow was also reported in Alaska. A similar incident was noted around northern Antarctica back in March. Observed by Ukranian researchers on Galindez Island, this one had more of a reddish tinge to it though.

As yet, it is tough to predict how such colour causing algae is impacting the melting cycle of the snow. There is, however, a known understanding - it does shorten it, causing faster melting.

Watermelon snow and why it's happening

An aerial picture taken on July 3, 2020, above the Presena glacier near Pellizzano, shows pink-colored snow. (Image: Miguel Medina / AFP; Getty Images)

The report by Earther cites Biagio Di Mauro, a researcher at the Institute of Polar Sciences at Italy¡¯s National Research Council, saying that ¡°the bloom on Presena Glacier is an example of Chlamydomonas nivalis, a type of algae found in the Alps as well as polar regions from Greenland to the Antarctic.¡±

The algae bloom is more commonly referred to as watermelon snow. It could be having an impact on snowmelt.

Pink snow accelerating climate change

The reason behind it is quite simple actually. White snow is very effective at bouncing the sun¡¯s rays back into space, hence keeping the temperature low. Any colour other than white in snow will absorb more of the sun¡¯s rays, thus trapping more heat and causing a faster ice melt.

Its causes, as mentioned by Di Mauro, include ¡°less solid precipitation during winter and higher air temperatures during spring and summer.¡± There is, however, ¡°little information on this aspect¡± as of now and further research needs to be done to understand its full impact on climate change, if any.

Scientists are now trying to understand how the melting of ice at such unexplored regions and for reasons yet undiscovered is having an impact on global sea level rise. A recent study in this regard measures the ice melt from below the ice shelves of Antarctica.