Overview

• Scientists measured ammonia levels up to 1,000 times higher than normal near a 60,000-strong Adélie penguin colony on Antarctica's Seymour Island.
• Ammonia from penguin guano combines with sulfuric acid from marine phytoplankton to form aerosols that act as cloud condensation nuclei.
• The resulting clouds may influence Antarctic surface temperatures, though the extent of their cooling effect remains uncertain due to the region's high albedo.
• Researchers warn that declining penguin populations could weaken this cloud-forming process, potentially accelerating local warming.
• The findings, published in *Communications Earth & Environment*, highlight the need to incorporate biological emissions into climate models and conservation strategies.