ECHOES OF THE LAST MIND

ORIGIN: https://www.yourweather.co.uk/news/

A scientific study shows that snow algae can cause greater melting in Antarctica than previously thought.

Snow algae in Antarctica may play an important role in melting parts of the frozen continent.

A key finding is that algal blooms appear early in the melt season, before peak temperatures. Quantifying the biological and physical processes on Antarctic ice shelves is crucial to minimising uncertainty in predicting how these critical interfaces between ice sheets and the ocean respond to climate change.

Snow algae and melting snow

Antarctic ice shelves regulate ice flow, making understanding the processes that drive seasonal melting crucial for projecting sea level rise and assessing ice sheet resilience to warming scenarios. This study examined the relationships between air temperature, surface melting, and algal biomass accumulation over several years on the Brunt and Riiser-Larsen Ice Shelves in West Antarctica.

By examining the impacts of climate change on these ecosystems, this research contributes to global efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to environmental sustainability and climate resilience. The analysis found a strong positive correlation