Penguins use sea ice as a resting spot when hunting, but increased temperatures cause the sea ice to melt. Less sea ice means that penguins will increasingly struggle to collect food for themselves and their chicks.
The heat causes glaciers to retreat and break off. The ice melts into the ocean and increases the sea level around the globe.
Rising sea levels can cause coastal flooding in Antarctica, leading to smaller habitats for wildlife.
Reduced land ice and increased heat can result in the introduction of new species, which may have a big impact on the ecosystem.
Ironically, increased heat also means that more snow falls. Too much snow causes penguins to lose the location of their eggs.
Increased heat also leads to more rainfall. Penguin chicks can die from hypothermia.
Small vegetation, like lichens, will have a hard time surviving due to the heat.
Declining sea ice also causes a decline in krill, which otherwise find shelter under the ice.
The animals that eat krill, like whales, sea lions and penguins, will have to find other hunting grounds. This disrupts the ecosystem in Antarctica and potentially elsewhere.
We asked a researcher in Antarctica five questions.
Credits
Photos, text and interview by Reinier van Oorsouw and Lorena Castillo.
Produced by Lokendra Singh.