Remote sensing reveals Antarctic green snow algae as important terrestrial carbon sink

This study presents the first estimate of green snow algae community biomass and distribution along the Antarctic Peninsula. Using Sentinel 2 imagery and two field campaigns, researchers identified 1679 snow algae blooms covering 1.95 × 10⁶ m² and equating to 1.3 × 10³ tonnes of total dry biomass. The ecosystem's range is limited to areas with average positive summer temperatures, and distribution is strongly influenced by marine nutrient inputs. A warming Antarctica may lead to the loss of blooms in small, low-lying islands; however, bloom area and elevation are predicted to increase at lower latitudes, resulting in a net increase in snow algae extent and biomass as the Peninsula warms.

Andrew Gray, Monika Krolikowski, Peter Fretwell, Peter Convey, Lloyd S. Peck, Monika Mendelova, Alison G. Smith, Matthew P. Davey