Dark sediment and dust particles that collect on glacial ice and snow surfaces, often creating holes or depressions as they absorb heat and sink into the ice.
From Greek 'kryos' (cold) + 'konite' (dust). This glaciological term emerged in the 19th century as scientists studying glaciers noticed these dark dust accumulations.
Cryoconite creates these wild little holes on glacier surfaces called cryoconite holes—they're like tiny pools of meltwater on ice, and they're tiny ecosystems with their own algae and bacteria living in them.
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