Pink snow found on the Presena glacier in the northern Italian Alps
Researcher collecting pink snow from a presena glacier connected to the Alps in northern Italy
Snow in the Alps in northern Italy has turned to some pink, attracting the attention of the local scientific community.
According to AFP communications on the 5th (local time), this pink eye was seen on the Presena Glacier, which is connected to the Alps of northern Trentino-Alto Adige.
The Italian scientific community sees this as a result of algae.
There is controversy over how the algae appeared, but it is the same type that once colored the Greenland Glacier.
The problem is that these algae melt the glaciers quickly.
Normally, glaciers reflect 80% of the sun's radiant heat into the atmosphere.
However, when algae appear, the glacier discolors darkly, absorbing heat and melting faster.
The wider the algae distribution, the faster the glaciers melt.
This is also observed in the so-called'dark zone' of Greenland, which has turned black with the emergence of algae.
It can be seen as a sign that the Alpine glacier is melting.
The scientific community estimates that climate change, along with human activity, is related to the expansion of algal distribution.
In fact, there are hiking trails and ski lifts near the Presena glacier, which keeps visitors alive.
One unfortunate visitor to the site said in an interview with AFP News Agency, "Unfortunately, we are inflicting irreparable damage."
(Photo = AFP, Yonhap News)