Glacier in Altai turned pink

2023-08-08 12:27:53

The Vodopadny glacier, which is part of the Aktru glacier group in the Altai Mountains, has acquired a pink hue, glaciologists from Tomsk State University.

The glacier became pink due to the bloom of unicellular algae, which the red pigment allows them to better tolerate low temperatures.

Alexander Erofeev, head of the laboratory of glacioclimatology at the Faculty of Geology and Geography of TSU, suggested that the snowiest winter in the Altai highlands in 30 years was the reason for the algae bloom.

The glacier may begin to melt faster as the color change reduces the reflectivity of its surface, Yerofeev said.