Scienceenvironment
Penguin poop melts Antarctic snow by keeping algae green
A recent study reveals that penguin guano is fertilizing snow algae blooms along the Antarctic Peninsula. This process sustains dense patches of green algae across the coastline. These expanding stretches of green snow absorb more sunlight and melt significantly faster than clean, white snow. As a result, the phenomenon could potentially accelerate the formation of ice-free areas in Antarctica.