ScienceLanguage: English
Penguin poop melts Antarctic snow by keeping algae green
Key Takeaways
- Penguin poop fertilizes Antarctic snow algae
- Green snow patches absorb more sunlight
- Melting rates of snow increase significantly
- Process may expand ice-free areas
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Penguin guano acts as a natural fertilizer, boosting snow algae blooms along the Antarctic coastline. The resulting green algae patches absorb more solar radiation and melt much faster than pristine white snow. This localized melting may accelerate the expansion of ice-free regions across the continent.
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