CNN —As rapidly warming global temperatures help push Antarctica’s sea ice to unprecedented lows, it’s threatening the very existence of one of the continent’s most iconic species: emperor penguins.
Emperor penguins rely on stable sea ice attached to land for nesting and raising their chicks.
For the past few years, scientists have been sounding the alarm about a steep decline in Antarctica’s sea ice.
In mid-July, Antarctic sea ice reached the lowest level for this time of year since records began in 1945.
Antarctic sea ice also helps regulate the planet’s temperature, reflecting the sun’s incoming energy back to space.
Persons:
Norman Ratcliffe, ”, Ratcliffe, Julian Quinones, “, Cassandra Brooks, ” Ratcliffe
Organizations:
CNN, British Antarctic Survey, University of Colorado Boulder
Locations:
Bellingshausen, floes, Argentina, Antarctica