Watermelon Snow opus 722
| 28 December 2025 1250 Hours | | Biology, Climate, Environment, Science |
Generally when we see or hear of the environment turning a false color,
A panic might start, realizing that something has gone awry.
Think of seashores gone red, or a pond choked with green.
Well, there is a phenomenon, about which one does not need alarm.
High in the mountains of the Rockies or during a cold Montana winter,
There are places where the snow turns red--a watermelon snow!
Not only red, but sometimes orange or green.
This is not caused by pollution, but rather by algae!
Studies result showing the colors are caused by different species,
Which are all cohabiting in the exact same place.
Of all the colors, the red species causes the snow to melt the fastest.
The algae are melting the snow to produce life-giving liquid water,
And, again, the red variety appears to melt the snow faster than the others.
One concern is how much the algae will speed up the melt time of our glaciers.
So, in spite of what will transpire with this new discovery,
To behold such bizarre and beautifully colored snow,
Gives one a feeling of awe and wonder for the world around us.