A study highlights the role that penguin droppings play in cloud formation and their potential impact in reducing the effects of global warming.
Penguin guano could play a role in reducing the effects of climate change in Antarctica, according to a new study published yesterday in Communications Earth & Environment. The study suggests that ammonia released by large Adélie penguin colonies could help reduce warming in the region by contributing to cloud formation, a process that would influence sea ice cover.
The Antarctic ecosystem is facing unprecedented challenges as human-induced climate change intensifies, particularly in the form of retreating sea ice. Penguins, particularly the Adélie, are not only affected by these changes, but also appear to play a role in regulating the region’s climate. The cause, the ammonia in their droppings.
Under-represented in atmospheric measurements, ammonia is in fact a key compound in cloud formation. When it combines with sulfur compounds in the atmosphere, it helps produce aerosols, the tiny particles that act as surfaces on which water vapor can condense, forming clouds. Clouds act as insulating layers in the atmosphere, reflecting sunlight and trapping heat. Clouds thus have a cooling effect on surface temperatures, which can ultimately influence sea ice cover.
To arrive at these results, researchers from the University of Helsinki and Finnish and Argentine meteorological institutes carried out measurements between January and March 2023 near the Marambio base on Seymour Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. The Argentine station is located near a large Adélie penguin colony of around 60 000 individuals. Scientists measured that the colony was the source of a dramatic increase in ammonia levels when the wind blew in its direction. At times, ammonia concentrations reached up to 13.5 parts per billion, over 1 000 times higher than the baseline value generally found in the region.
Even after the penguins had migrated from the area, ammonia levels remained high, as the guano they left behind continued to release the gas into the atmosphere. Remarkably, ammonia levels remained over 100 times higher than the norm long after the birds had left.
The researchers also observed a sharp increase in aerosol particles when the wind blew from the colony. A few hours after this change in wind direction, the team recorded a period of fog, which they attribute to the increased concentrations of aerosol particles in the air.
If the ammonia released by penguin guano can indeed contribute to cloud formation, this could help cool Antarctic surface temperatures, slowing ice melt. Given the rapid rate of sea ice loss in the region, even small changes in temperature regulation could have an impact on the future of the ecosystem.
Although this discovery does not represent a direct solution to climate change, it does highlight how even innocuous aspects, such as penguin droppings, can play an important role in balancing climate systems. The study shows that the interactions between wildlife and its environment are far more complex than previously thought. “These findings emphasize the importance of ecosystem processes from penguin/bird colonies and oceanic phytoplankton/bacteria on climate-relevant aerosol processes in coastal Antarctica,” notes Matthew Boyer, lead author of the study. “This demonstrates an important connection between ecosystem and atmospheric processes that impact the Antarctic climate, which is crucial given the current rate of environmental changes in the region.”
As climate change continues to threaten the fragile balance of life in Antarctica, this study serves as a reminder of the importance of wildlife-atmosphere interactions and the need to pursue conservation efforts to preserve the region’s biodiversity.