Glaciers are huge white ice masses that can reflect a lot of sunlight. However, especially where the glaciers are not covered in snow and the bare ice is exposed, they sometimes have dark patches. These are microscopic algae that grow on the ice and darken its surface.

"For the first time, we are able to see significant increases in the size and depth of crevasses at fast-flowing glaciers at the edges of the Greenland Ice Sheet," said Dr. Tom Chudley.

Most people probably think of glaciers as massive blocks of white ice. But many glaciers have dark patches because of the growth of algae, which can... | Earth And The Environment

The tiny ice inhabitants darken the glacier surface and can thus accelerate its melting.