Researchers have found giant viruses, around 2.5 micrometers in size with significantly longer genomes, living alongside blooming algae in dark ice and red snow on the Greenland ice sheet.
The presence of viral mRNA suggests these giant viruses are active and potentially transcribing their genetic material.
The main hypothesis is that these viruses could potentially control algae blooms by infecting and consuming snow algae, acting as a natural control mechanism and slowing down ice melt, which contributes to global warming.
Every spring, the return of sunlight in the Arctic causes algae on the ice to bloom, darkening the surface and accelerating ice melt.
Arctic sea ice is shrinking at an alarming rate of 13% per decade, and it is projected that the Arctic could be ice-free by 2040 if the current melting rates continue. The melting is accelerated by the growth of darkening algae that revive during spring.
Greenland's ice sheet plays a critical role in regulating global sea levels, and the rate of ice melt is 20% higher than previously estimated, significantly affecting major glaciers like the Petermann Glacier.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Daily Star, Live Science, interestingengineering.com, phys.org, spacedaily.com, Mashable, earth.com, thevalleypost.com, cosmosmagazine.com, knowridge.com, zmescience.com, techexplorist.com, natureworldnews.com ecoportal.net, scitechdaily.com.