Scientists are working to understand snow algae and its association with climate change. They are looking to the outdoor community to keep an eye out for pink snow while in the backcountry.

Specifically, they are looking for the following information:

1. Photographs of the site: close-ups, wider perspectives showing the setting and shots of nearby white snow for comparison.

2. An estimate of the size of area covered by coloured snow (e.g. “one patch the size of a parking spot with several smaller patches nearby.”)

3. GPS coordinates, elevation and name of location.

4. Date

5. Weather conditions. (Overcast? Sunny? Raining? Snowing?). We are interested in conditions at the time of sighting as well as the few days preceding.

6. Site characteristics. (Can you tell if the snow on rocks or soil or ice? Is there a forest canopy overhead or nearby? Is the snow dirty? Is there a fresh water source nearby? etc.)

7. Snow conditions. (Soggy and wet? Dry and fluffy? etc.)

8. An estimate of snow depth

9. How many hours did you spend moving through the backcountry on this trip?
10. How many sightings of coloured snow did you make on this trip?

Please send observations, questions and suggestions to bcsnowalgae@gmail.com

For more information check out their blog:

https://medium.com/snow-algae-reports/5-backcountry-enthusiasts-invited-to-join-the-bc-snow-algae-project-249057de4fbf#.ra8zfrejq