Penguin poop helps form clouds that could slow Antarctic warming

When we think of Antarctica, we picture vast white deserts, towering glaciers, and resilient creatures like penguins surviving in the cold. But beyond the majestic icebergs and snow-covered expanses lies a much more complex picture.

Climate change is warming the region faster than most other parts of the planet. Sea ice is retreating. Weather patterns are shifting. And species like the Adelie penguin are under severe threat.

At first glance, penguins seem like helpless bystanders in this planetary crisis. But what if they were doing more than surviving? What if their biology and behavior – specifically their droppings – had the power to affect clouds, air chemistry, and even climate?

New research suggests exactly that. Penguin guano, often seen as just a smelly by-product of seabird life, may play a much larger role in Antarctica’s climate than anyone expected.

Penguin poop helps clouds form

The study, led by Matthew Boyer, Mikko Sipilä, and colleagues from University of Helsinki, investigates how ammonia from penguin guano contributes to atmospheric processes in Antarctica.

The team measured ammonia concentrations at a coastal site near Marambio Base during the austral summer of 2023. They found that penguin colonies – particularly one containing around 60,000 Adelie penguins – acted as massive sources of gaseous ammonia.

Ammonia in the atmosphere is a key ingredient in forming aerosols. These particles are essential for creating cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), which allow water vapor to condense and form clouds.

More clouds can reflect sunlight and reduce surface temperatures, making this process highly relevant for sea ice retention and climate regulation in the polar environment. But ammonia has long been underrepresented in climate models, especially in remote areas like Antarctica.

Long-lasting ammonia emissions

The study recorded ammonia levels between January 10 and March 20, 2023. When the wind blew from the penguin colony, ammonia concentrations surged to as high as 13.5 parts per billion – more than 1,000 times the background levels.

Even after the penguins migrated at the end of February, the ornithogenic soil – enriched with guano – kept emitting ammonia for weeks.

This long-lasting emission surprised the researchers. Their data confirmed that these penguin hotspots around the Antarctic coast could release ammonia levels comparable to those found in agricultural fields during summer.

The emissions are not evenly spread but come in strong bursts, especially when the wind shifts direction toward nearby colonies. This means penguin guano can create regional plumes of cloud-forming particles even after the birds have left.

Ammonia triggers cloud-forming particles

To assess the impact on particle formation, the researchers recorded detailed chemical data.

On days when winds came from penguin colonies, the team observed sharp increases in both the number and size of aerosol particles. These particles eventually grew to the size needed for cloud condensation – above 30 nanometers – within a matter of hours.

On February 1, 2023, a major event occurred. A strong new particle formation (NPF) event was followed by fog at the measurement site. The researchers found that the fog formed from the same air mass rich in ammonia and sulfuric acid.

Analysis of the cloud droplet composition revealed ammonium sulfate – a direct signature of the penguin-driven chemical processes.

The persistence of particle formation before and after the fog confirmed that this wasn’t a one-off incident. The authors believe that their work emphasizes the importance, and benefits, of protecting seabirds and their habitats from the effects of climate change.

Other gases also boost particle growth

Ammonia wasn’t acting alone. Dimethylamine (DMA), another nitrogen-rich gas, was also detected in the cluster formation process.

Although present at lower levels, DMA greatly enhances the rate at which sulfuric acid forms aerosols. Laboratory studies have shown that even tiny amounts of DMA can accelerate particle formation by factors of up to 10,000.

Interestingly, the researchers noted that sulfuric acid and ammonia dominated the cluster composition. DMA appeared only in trace quantities – just enough to stabilize clusters during early formation stages. This suggests a multicomponent mechanism, with both ammonia and DMA contributing in different ways.

Iodine oxoacids like HIO₂ and HIO₃ also played supporting roles. These compounds, sourced from ocean life and sea-ice chemistry, have been known to influence particle formation during spring and autumn. But in this summer study, ammonia and sulfur dominated the process.

Cloud formation and regional impacts

New particle formation events like these are not just chemical curiosities. They affect the formation of CCN and cloud droplets.

Clouds, in turn, control how much sunlight reaches the surface and how much heat escapes into space. In the polar climate system, these clouds can mean the difference between melting ice and stable conditions.

The study’s measurements showed that penguin-driven ammonia emissions initiated a cascade of chemical events. These culminated in visible cloud formations, including fog. T

he resulting particles could last for days and travel inland or over the ocean, influencing weather patterns far beyond the colony’s location.

Cloud brightness, lifetime, and height all depend on the number of available CCN. In areas like Antarctica, where background particle levels are low, even small increases can make a noticeable difference.

By emitting ammonia at such high levels, penguins effectively modulate local cloud properties.

Fewer penguins mean fewer clouds

There’s a dark twist to this story. If penguin populations decline due to shrinking sea ice or food scarcity, their contribution to ammonia emissions will also drop. That means fewer particles, fewer clouds, and possibly faster warming.

The researchers warn that declining penguin populations could create a feedback loop. Less ice leads to fewer penguins. Fewer penguins mean less ammonia and cloud cover. That leads to even more ice loss.

This idea is supported by earlier modeling work in the Arctic, where seabird emissions were shown to affect regional temperatures. The Antarctic case now adds real-world measurements to support similar conclusions.

Penguins quietly shape the climate

These findings reveal a remarkable complexity in the Antarctic climate system. Tiny molecules from penguin droppings can influence clouds and temperature. It’s a reminder that the Earth’s systems are interconnected in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

In places like Antarctica, where human emissions are minimal, biological processes take center stage. Penguins are not just part of the scenery. They shape the air we breathe and the clouds we see.

If we want to protect the poles – and slow global warming – we may need to start with something as simple as protecting the penguins.

The study is published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

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