Research has shown that the droppings of penguins living in Antarctica could help mitigate climate change.
An international research team, including the University of Helsinki in Finland, noted on the 22nd that "the ammonia from the droppings of Adélie penguins can help cloud formation and contribute to lowering surface temperatures." The research findings were published that day in the international journal "Communications Earth & Environment."
This study was conducted near the Maria Bío station in Antarctica from January to March 2023. The researchers captured the phenomenon of ammonia concentration sharply increasing in the air when wind blew from a colony of over 60,000 Adélie penguins located 8 km away from the station. The droppings of penguins, which primarily feed on fish or krill, contain a significant amount of nitrogen waste that decomposes into ammonia.
The measured ammonia concentration actually reached up to 13.5 ppb (1 ppb is one part per billion), which was over 1,000 times higher than usual. Even after the penguin colony moved at the end of February, ammonia continued to be released from the remaining droppings. As a result, the ammonia concentration in the air remained over 100 times higher than the standard level.
Ammonia reacts with sulfur compounds in the air to create aerosols (fine particles in solid or liquid form). These particles can serve as seeds for water vapor to condense, assisting in cloud formation. The researchers explained that, in addition to ammonia, dimethylamine from the droppings combined with sulfur compounds, causing aerosols to form up to 10,000 times faster.
When winds blew from the direction of the penguin habitat, the number and size of aerosol particles surged, leading to thick fog within 3 to 4 hours. This indicates that the chemicals from penguin droppings accelerate cloud formation.
Clouds reflect sunlight, which helps prevent surface temperatures from rising. This could help slow down the rate of sea ice reduction in Antarctica. Previously, a collaborative research team in Canada in 2016 revealed that the clouds created by seabird droppings in the Arctic reflected sunlight, cooling the surface.
The researchers stated, "We have only just begun to understand the impact of ammonia emitted by penguins on the climate system," adding that "this study underscores the importance of preserving marine birds and their habitats."
References
Communications Earth & Environment (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02312-2