Seabirds are helping to slow Arctic warming, and they do it in a very curious way according to a study published in the scientific journal Nature.
In this part of the world, rising temperatures are causing serious problems, although without these animals, the situation would be much worse.
Guano, the unexpected ally of the Arctic
So is. The guano is the one that is slowing the warming. Scientists have calculated that up to 400.000 tons of guano are deposited on the surface during the migration and nesting season of these beautiful animals. But it not only serves to fertilize the soil and the plants that can grow in it, but also triggers high albedo cloud formation, which produce an average cooling of 0,5 watts per square meter.
It's not much, and it doesn't actually make up for polar warming, but This discovery in the short or medium term could perhaps serve to develop an effective plan of action to protect the Arctic of the rapid changes that are taking place in the world climate and especially at the poles.
The ammonia particles that emerge from the guano contribute to the formation of clouds, which reflect sunlight, sending it back into space.
The ammonia particles, present in guano, are of course concentrated around the colonies, but being so tiny, invisible to the human eye, the air carries them away, spreading them throughout the Arctic region.. In this way, the right conditions are given for the formation of clouds which will reflect the sunlight, thus preventing temperatures from rising and the land and sea from heating up.
It is without a doubt a very interesting find, don't you think?
You can read the full study here (It is in English).