Penguin Poop Clouds Chill Antarctica With Smelly Scientific Chain Reaction

Penguin poop clouds are cooling Antarctica, new research finds, as ammonia aerosols from millions of penguinsâ guano spark heat-shielding low clouds over the icy continent. In 2025, Helsinki and Canterbury scientists link this smelly process to the climateâs delicate balance, calling it âsurprising.â
Ammonia from penguin guano triggers cloud formation, but the real twist comes from how it interacts with sulfur from ocean algae. This chemical synergy, observed by 7 researchers, means colonies covering square miles could shift cloud coverâturning the birdsâ bathroom breaks into unexpected climate guardians.
A single large penguin colony can produce several hundred tons of guano annuallyâenough to spot from space.