Spectral properties and remote sensing of snow algal blooms in the Antarctic Peninsula

Snow algae, microscopic organisms thriving in snow-covered environments, significantly affect snow albedo and broader climatic processes. This study introduces the Algae Presence Index (API), a novel spectral tool using Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery to detect and classify red and green algae on King George Island, Antarctica. From 2019 to 2023, we analyzed temporal and spatial variations in algae presence during austral summers and observed corresponding reductions in surface albedo, demonstrating how algal blooms influence snowmelt. Green algae showed a stronger albedo reduction (up to 8.46 %) compared to red algae (5.33 %), emphasizing their greater role in accelerating snowmelt. The API outperformed traditional indices, such as the red/green band ratio and Red-Green Normalized Difference. It eliminated spectral overlap and accurately distinguished algae types from algae-free snow. These findings underscore the critical role of snow algae in climate feedback mechanisms and highlight the importance of monitoring their growth during Antarctic warming. This methodology provides a robust framework for assessing algae impacts on the cryosphere, with important implications for climate models and conservation. • Developed a novel Algae Presence Index (API) for snow algae detection. • Green algae reduce albedo more than red algae by up to 8.46 %. • API outperforms red/green band ratio and RGND for algae classification.