In 1955, California residents were quite surprised to see snow … green! In 1969, the Swedes were surprised by the black snow. Colored snow is also not uncommon in our country. Eyewitnesses at different periods observed snow cover of yellow, cream and pink colors. What is the reason for the change in the usual white color of snow?
Most often, dust and particles falling into the clouds are responsible for coloring the snow in different colors. So, in 1892, black snow fell in Ukraine, caused by a storm that raised earth dust. Sometimes strong jet streams are observed in the atmosphere, which carry sand from the desert over considerable distances. In 2004, yellow snow fell in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Poland. The reason for this was a sandstorm in Saudi Arabia.
In the highlands and polar regions, you can find red and pink snow. The reason for this is the algae of the subspecies Chlamydomonas nivalis (Chlamidomonas nivalis). This cold-loving algae blooms when the thermometers drop below zero. Snow Chlamydomonas is not the only type of algae that gives snow its color. Its other “brothers” can color the snow in green, yellow, brown and blue shades. At the same time, according to climbers and local residents, in the Sierra Nevada (California) mountains, pink snow tastes like watermelon ice cream.