Bird poop may have effect on warming environment

Researchers say the droppings of small, migratory birds could be having a big impact on the Arctic environment. A team at Dalhousie University in Halifax is leading a study on the connections between migratory Arctic seabirds, cloud formation and the Arctic climate. They have found that the ammonia from Arctic seabird droppings is linked to the development of atmospheric aerosol particles, and that those particles spread throughout the Arctic, help cloud formation and create a cooling effect when they reflect more solar energy back into space. The team says the cooling effect created by their droppings is not enough to stem warming temperatures in the Arctic.