"Watermelon Snow" appears in Antarctica, scientists say this unromantic may be dangerous
Recently, a pink "watermelon snow" phenomenon appeared near the Ukrainian scientific research station in Antarctica, which caused people's attention. The snow in the area is pink and mysterious and beautiful in the sun. Scientists say this is because the snow contains a microorganism called polar snow algae, which is suitable for survival in cold climates and maintains a "dormant" state at low temperatures. But when the temperature rises, it starts to grow rapidly. Because it contains astaxanthin (carotenoids) to prevent ultraviolet radiation, it appears red. There are other similar algae that appear black, brown, or yellow.
But scientists also say that this phenomenon may not be as romantic as it seems. Because when the snow and ice appear red, it will reduce the reflection of the sun and reduce the melting speed. If a large area appears, it will exacerbate the climate warming and threaten the ecosystem.
The phenomenon of "Watermelon Snow" does not appear for the first time. As early as the 4th century BC, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle recorded this scene in The Short Stories of Nature. However, due to global warming in recent years, the frequency of this phenomenon is increasing. (Mainland reporter Liu Xin Chen Yu)