Red snow
Red snow, snow or ice surfaces, usually overlying soil on mountains, that are coloured by algae such as Chlamydomonas or Raphidonema. During seasons when there is little sunlight and temperatures are below the freezing point, the algae are dormant.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Red snow
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
06 November 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026