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Albedo change from snow algae blooms can contribute substantially to snow melt in the North Cascades, USA

Earth Sciences

Albedo change from snow algae blooms can contribute substantially to snow melt in the North Cascades, USA

S. M. Healy and A. L. Khan

Discover how snow algae blooms are transforming the snowmelt dynamics in the North Cascades! Researchers Shannon M. Healy and Alia L. Khan utilized UAV technology to identify these blooms and their significant impact on radiative forcing and snow water equivalence. A captivating study shedding light on climate processes!

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Playback language: English
Abstract
Snow algae blooms, impacting snow albedo, significantly contribute to snowmelt in the North Cascades. Using multispectral cameras on an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), researchers mapped snow algae via principal components analysis and spectral indexing, verifying results with algal pigment and cell count data. High bloom intensity showed an average instantaneous radiative forcing of 237 W m⁻², leading to 1,508 ± 536 m³ of melted snow water equivalent in a 0.1 km² basin. This highlights snow algae's role in mid-latitude snowmelt and the UAV's potential for cryosphere mapping.
Publisher
Communications Earth & Environment
Published On
May 08, 2023
Authors
Shannon M. Healy, Alia L. Khan
Tags
snow algae
albedo
snowmelt
UAV mapping
radiative forcing
North Cascades
multispectral analysis

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