Penguin droppings could help combat climate change

One of the main animal species that inhabit the Antarctic are penguins, such as the Adélie penguin and the emperor penguin . Unfortunately, the latter has been the subject of a recent scientific study , carried out by a team of researchers from Cambridge, which warns of a decline in its population. Data collected between 2009 and 2023 show that, during this period, emperor penguins have suffered a 22% reduction in numbers. The main cause, according to experts, has been global warming, specifically the resulting loss of Antarctic sea ice . These data are especially relevant due to the findings obtained from another recent study.

A study led by the University of Helsinki and published in the specialized journal Nature reveals that penguin droppings are directly related to a phenomenon that helps cool the climate and is important for combating climate change. The results of this study, which included a team of specialists from different countries, highlight the importance of penguin colonies in ecosystem and atmospheric processes, as well as their impact on the Antarctic climate.

How do penguin droppings help reduce global warming?

The key lies in ammonia, as it promotes the formation of new particles that will be essential in the cloud condensation process, according to the researchers. The importance of these low-altitude cloud formations is that they help cool the climate and reduce temperatures. The role of penguin droppings, according to experts, is that they represent an "important" source of ammonia in coastal Antarctica. Therefore, penguins play a key role in the creation of these particles, creating a feedback loop with their habitat.

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However, this is a complex area of research, given that, as scientists acknowledge, more atmospheric measurements of ammonia would be needed to further their observations. The researchers emphasize the importance of making progress in this area, especially given the region's current situation as a result of global warming. "Some penguin species are already threatened due to environmental changes. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the interactions between the ecosystem and the atmosphere that contribute to climate-relevant processes, especially now, as environmental conditions in coastal Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are changing rapidly," they warn.

Without the ammonia from penguin droppings, these cloud-forming particles would continue to form, since ammonia doesn't form them. Its function is to accelerate the process, so without this component, it would be much slower. Researchers estimate that ammonia increases the rate at which these cloud-forming particles form 1,000 times faster.