Joseph Cook – Darkening Hues of Greenland

In recent years, warming summers have caused native algae living just below Greenland’s ice sheet to explode in their billions, transforming the landscape from one of whites and blues to purples and browns. These darker expanses trap more of the sun’s heat, accelerating the rate at which the ice melts and flows into the ocean. Polar scientist and 2016 Rolex Young Laureate Joseph Cook is carrying out pioneering research on the phenomenon, with the latest findings uncovering new explanations about the function of microscopic plant life in glacial melting and its role in climate change. Discover more https://on.rolex.org/35DeQUP #Rolex #PerpetualPlanet #RolexAwards