The population of emperor penguins in one part of Antarctica appears to be declining faster than previously thought, according to a new analysis of satellite imagery released Tuesday.

The estimated population of 16 penguin colonies — visible in satellite photos taken between 2009 and 2024 – had declined 22% during that period mainly because of climate change that’s shrinking the amount of available sea ice. It’s unclear whether this drop is seen across the continent, scientists said.

Scientists previously estimated that the total emperor penguin population declined about 10% across all of Antarctica over the past decade and a half. The latest survey included a region covering the Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea and Bellingshausen Sea.

“It’s absolutely alarming that the numbers are so much worse than predicted,” said Daniel Zitterbart, a penguin researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, who was not involved in the study.

  • FerretyFever0@fedia.io
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    2 days ago

    Well, shit. Loving this speeding up of the Doomsday clock. Can’t wait for us to be the long dead alien civilization that gets discovered in a few centuries. We’ll be like the Ayleids, but awful.

      • FerretyFever0@fedia.io
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        2 days ago

        … I’m not new to Elder Scrolls, I bought Oblivion a full 6 days ago. Respec mah authoritah!!! Nah, fr, I don’t know a lot. I just know that the Ayleids left a bunch of fancy shrines, as seems to be common in rpgs. Oblivion’s just the thing in the front of my mind.