Tuesday, December 23, 2008

UA climate researcher warns of penguin loss


National Geographic interviewed UA climate researcher Joellen Russell about her work on a study that found 50% of emperor penguin and 75% of Adelie penguin colonies may disappear if the global climate warms 2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.

The story says changes in winds that drive the ocean currents around Antarctica will prevent sea ice from forming especially in the continents northern latitudes where the penguin colonies are concentrated. [right, Adelies at Cape Adere]

The emperors raise their young on sea ice and the Adelies hunt for food among the broken sea ice.

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