Pigmented algae are well adapted to grow on exposed ice in the Arctic as the snow line recedes, raising concerns of a feedback loop that could lead to faster sea level rise

Glaciers are melting rapidly, reducing ice and freshwater supplies, increasing sea levels, and threatening global water security.

Researchers found that Greenland’s ice algae store phosphorus, allowing them to expand and darken ice surfaces, reducing reflectivity and accelerating melt rates. As climate change exposes more ice, these algae may worsen Arctic ice loss.