Antarctic snow ice is not only white

The existence of microalgae under ice or penguin droppings is the cause of diverse and vivid colors on white Antarctic ice sheets.

Antarctica is often known as a flock of penguins that stand out on white icebergs with different shapes and sizes.However, in fact, the colors on the continent are varied and vivid with pink, blue, and even brownish black bands.

The main food of penguins is a small mollusk with pink color.After digestion, penguin feces also have this color.The movement of the flock of penguins on the ice continent creates pink or red on white ice sheets.

The surface of the Buenos Aires ice sheet, near Argentina's Esperanza research station, turns red due to the existence of a microalgae whose scientific name is Chlamydomonas nivalis.

Some other types of microalgae with blue pigments can stain many large ice sheets.

On warmer days, the sun warms the ice surfaces and stimulates the growth of ice-colored algae, banding with vivid colors.When the air returns, the microalgae return to an inactive state under the ice.

Microalgae stained the surface of the ice around the Esperanza Base research station area.

The layers of dirt are washed away by the wind to form brown, black or dark layers.In the picture, the flock of penguins is moving through large colorful runways.