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Community-driven variations in snow algae color modulate snow albedo reduction.
Pablo Almela1, James J Elser2, Anthony Zmuda1
1Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA.
The New Phytologist
|November 26, 2025
Summary
Snow algae blooms vary in color due to distinct algal communities and pigment composition. This variation significantly impacts snow
Area of Science:
- * Cryosphere science and microbial ecology.
- * Investigating biological impacts on snowpack optics and energy balance.
Background:
- * Snow algae blooms alter snow color and surface energy balance.
- * The biological drivers of this variability are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To determine how pigment composition and community structure influence snow algae bloom optical properties.
- * To quantify the impact of biological characteristics on snow reflectance and radiative forcing.
Main Methods:
- * Analysis of spectral reflectance, pigment composition (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography), and algal community composition (18S rRNA amplicon sequencing) of red, orange, and green snow algae blooms.
- * Comparison of optical properties and radiative forcing across different bloom colors.
Main Results:
- * Astaxanthin was the dominant pigment in all blooms; chlorophyll a was highest in green blooms.
- * Distinct algal taxa were associated with each bloom color: Sanguina in red, Chloromonas in green/orange.
- * Red blooms exhibited the lowest reflectance and highest radiative forcing (56 W m⁻²), increasing snowpack energy absorption and localized melting.
Conclusions:
- * Snow algae bloom color is a visual indicator of distinct community compositions and pigment pools.
- * These biological differences significantly influence snowfield radiative balance and melting dynamics.
- * Bloom color is an emergent property influenced by multiple biological and environmental factors.
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