There is a “mysterious” appearance of pink ice on glaciers in the Alps. Scientists are investigating the pink glacial ice which is caused by algae that has a detrimental impact on the environment. It is likely to boost the climate change crisis.
Concerning the origin of the algae, “the pink snow observed on parts of the Presena glacier is likely caused by the same plant found in Greenland,” said Biagio Di Mauro from National Research Council, Italy.
The plant is called Ancylonema nordenskioeldii. It can also been seen in Greenland.
He says that the algae is not dangerous and occurs naturally during the spring and summer in both the middle latitudes and the Poles. He had studied the algae at the Morteratsch glacier in Switzerland.
He says that usually ice reflects back 80% of the sun’s radiations into the atmosphere. When algae is present, it darkens the ice causing it to absorb more heat and melt the ice. Increasing algae results in melting of ice rapidly.
He points out that hikers and ski lifts may have an impact on algae and he and his team are trying to quantify possible effects that causes the Earth to overheat.
There is fear that the crisis of climate change is only worsening.
Source: AFP