"Like Spilling Watermelon Juice"…Red Eyes Appearing on US Snowy Mountain

Green algae distributed in snow produce red pigments
Reducing sunlight reflection may affect sea level rise

In a snowy mountain in the United States, so-called "watermelon snow," which is red-colored snow, has been discovered, attracting attention.

Red eyes discovered in the mountain range of Utah, USA
Photo source=YouTube 'Sky News Australia'

According to recent reports from local media such as CNN in the United States, red-colored snow was captured in the perennial snow area of Park City, Utah. Hikers reportedly reacted to the snow by saying things like "I thought Himalayan salt was sprinkled," and "It looks like red-colored aid powder."

The reason the snow is red instead of white is due to a green algae called "Chlamydomonas nivalis" distributed in the snow of the perennial snow area. This green algae produces red pigments to protect its cells when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Scott Hotaling, an assistant professor at Utah State University, explained this phenomenon as "a normal occurrence in mountainous areas worldwide," adding, "(This time) it appeared in the common red color, but it can appear in various colors including purple, green, and orange."

According to experts, watermelon snow is not harmful to humans and does not cause problems even if mixed with drinking water. However, some argue that in the long term, watermelon snow could have a negative impact on the environment. The darker the color, the less sunlight is reflected, so when the snow is red, it absorbs more sunlight than when it is white. In this case, the surface temperature rises, and the rate at which glaciers melt can accelerate.

Alia Khan, a biogeochemist at Western Washington University, told the UK Guardian, "White snow reflects most of the light, but when green algae or dust that darken the snow are mixed in, the reflective ability significantly decreases," adding, "In this case, glaciers melt faster, which can affect sea level rise."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.