MLchartDataset catalogue

Red snow

Term · Meteorology and atmospheric science · MLC-T-MET-008463

Snow that appears reddish or pink due to the presence of pigmented microorganisms, primarily a species of green algae called Chlamydomonas nivalis. These algae contain a red carotenoid pigment that protects them from intense ultraviolet radiation in high-altitude or polar environments. This phenomenon is also known as 'watermelon snow' due to its color and sometimes faint scent.

Table 1. Record
IdentifierMLC-T-MET-008463
FieldMeteorology and atmospheric science
Record as JSON
{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-008463",
  "term": "Red snow",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "definition": "Snow that appears reddish or pink due to the presence of pigmented microorganisms, primarily a species of green algae called Chlamydomonas nivalis. These algae contain a red carotenoid pigment that protects them from intense ultraviolet radiation in high-altitude or polar environments. This phenomenon is also known as 'watermelon snow' due to its color and sometimes faint scent.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/red-snow/"
}

Record 7,939 of 10,816 in Meteorology and atmospheric science terminology (MLC-0110). Request the full dataset.