The Strange Way Penguin Poop Could Be Cooling Antarctica

The Strange Way Penguin Poop Could Be Cooling Antarctica

Ammonia from penguin guano boosts cloud formation, potentially helping Antarctica resist climate change. Ammonia from penguin guano could be playing a surprising role in protecting Antarctica from the effects of climate change. A new study published in Communications Earth & Environment reveals that emissions from Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) may help boost cloud formation, offering [...]

As Antarctic sea ice shrinks, iconic emperor penguins are in more peril than we thought

When winter comes to Antarctica, seals and Adélie penguins leave the freezing shores and head for the edge of the forming sea ice. But emperor penguins stay put. The existence of emperor penguins seems all but impossible. Their lives revolve around seasons, timing and access to “fast ice” – sea ice connected to the Antarctic coast. Here, the sea ice persists long enough into summer for the penguins to rear their chicks successfully. But climate …

Could emperor penguins be extinct by 2100?

New insight from satellite images is raising fears that climate change is hitting penguins in Antarctica harder than previously thought.Emperor penguins on sea ice on the Brunt Ice Shelf (c) Christopher WaltonAntarctica’s emperor penguin population may be decreasing faster than some of the most pessimistic predictions.Analysis of the latest satellite imagery suggests the birds’ numbers declined 22% from 2009 to 2024 in a key sector of the contin…