Scientists are trying to learn more about microorganisms that turn snow red and might cause snow to melt faster.Recently, researcher Eric Marechal collected what he called “snow blood” from a mountain area 2,500 meters above sea level.Snow blood is a kind of algae that is red.Its dark color causes snow to melt more easily.Scientist are concerned that the algae are spreading."These algae are green. But when it's in the snow, it accumulates a little pigment like sunscreen to protect itself," said Marechal.He is the research director at Grenoble's Scientific Research National Center.He and his coworkers collected algae to study in the laboratory on Le Brevent Mountain near the town of Chamonix in France.The red-colored organism was formally identified and given its scientific name Sanguina nivaloides in 2019.Scientists are now trying to understand snow blood.Snow volume is decreasing because of rising global temperatures.This change in climate is especially affecting the Alps Mountains.There is a "double reason" for studying the algae, Marechal explained."The first is that it's an area that is little-explored and the second is that this little explored area is melting before our eyes so it's urgent," he said.
