As we know, climate change is a global phenomenon that is leaving us with worrying and surprising images. The fact that average global temperatures are constantly rising is causing somewhat exceptional situations. Given that one of the areas of the planet most impacted by rising global temperatures is Antarctica, it is here that the most unusual phenomena can be seen. Today we are here to talk about one of the phenomena that is surprising the entire scientific community. It is the green snow.
In this article we are going to tell you what green snow means, what its characteristics are and what consequences it has regarding the climate change.
What is green snow
What you might think when you hear the term "green snow" is that vegetation is growing due to the melting of Antarctic snow. Currently, due to rising global temperatures, the white snow is turning green as microscopic algae are growing. When it grows massively it has the snow green and makes it appear a bright green color. This phenomenon can be appreciated even from space and has helped scientists to develop a map.
All data is collected through satellites capable of observing and taking images. Observations taken over several summers in Antarctica have been combined with satellite observations to estimate all the areas where green snow will be present. All these measurements will be used to calculate the rate at which the algae will continue to spread across the continent due to climate change.
As expected, the growth of these microscopic algae will affect the dynamics of the climate at a global level.
Green snow and terrestrial albedo
El Earth's albedo is the amount of solar radiation that is reflected from the surface back into space by different elements. Among these elements we find light-colored surfaces, clouds, gases, etc. Snow is capable of reflecting up to 80% of the solar radiation incident on it. What has been discovered about the Green snow means that the albedo data is reduced to 45%.. This means that more heat can be retained on the surface without being reflected back to outer space.
One might think that since the albedo in Antarctica is going to decrease, it will become a self-reinforcing driving force behind average temperatures. However, the various factors that influence this temperature evolution must also be taken into account. For example, the growth of microscopic algae also favors the absorption of carbon dioxide by photosynthesis. This helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gases, which in turn, It will help us not to increase temperatures.
Then, it is necessary to analyze the balance between the amount of heat that Antarctica is capable of retaining due to the decrease in terrestrial albedo, together with the capacity of microscopic algae to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As we know, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas with the ability to retain heat. Therefore, the more carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere, more heat will be stored and therefore will increase temperatures.
Studies on microscopic algae in Antarctica
There are already numerous studies that have been published in the journal Nature Communications. who predict that green snow will continue to spread across the Antarctic continent. As climate change increases average global temperatures, we expect further expansion of these algae.
The studies also show that Antarctica is the place experiencing the changes brought about by climate change most rapidly. This warming is increasing rapidly in this part of the planet. The study's data show that a heat wave was recorded in eastern Antarctica in January. This heat wave caused temperatures 7 degrees above average. As the heating process continues, the amount of microalgae will also increase more and more.
The problem is that snow no longer lasts as long as it used to. We must also take into account the Rising sea levels which will cause the complete melting of the Antarctic ice. To better understand this, it should be noted that the main difference between Antarctica and the North Pole is that in Antarctica there is a land continent beneath the ice. This means that if the ice melts above the land, the sea level will rise. The opposite occurs with the North Pole. The northern ice caps do not have a land continent beneath them. Therefore, if this ice melts it will not raise the sea level.
The algae that have been studied in Antarctica are concentrated on the coast. This is because they are the areas that become warmer since they have average temperatures of just over zero degrees. The proliferation of microalgae is also promoted by mammalian animals and seabirds. And it is that the excrement of these animals are very nutritious for these photosynthetic organisms. That is, these same excrements serve as fertilizer and contribute to its growth.
A new CO2 sink
It is known from studies that most algal colonies are close to penguin colonies. They are located at the points where the few rest and in the vicinity of some places where the birds nest.
What can be seen as a positive point of all this, is that there will be a new sink for CO2 on the planet. Since algae maintain a high rate of photosynthesis, their own energy is generated during this process and this greenhouse gas is absorbed. Thanks to the growth of these algae, a greater amount of carbon dioxide will be extracted from the atmosphere and could be counted as a positive point. This new CO2 sink could absorb up to 479 tons per year. This figure may be higher since there are other types of orange and red algae that have not yet been included in the study.
Do not think that all this is going to be positive in general, since the consequences of climate change are so serious that this effect of green snow cannot be offset.
That with this information they can learn more about green snow and its importance.