This dataset comprises Sentinel2 satellite imagery and derived geographic locations of five emperor penguin colonies located in the central and eastern Bellingshausen Sea, between October to December 2022. Medium-resolution satellite data was monitored for the presence of emperor penguin colonies, and when colonies were found, imagery was digitised and downloaded from Copernicus playground. Satellite data indicate early sea ice break-up at three of the four colonies, and the disappearance of the fourth colony. Digitisation and annotation of satellite imagery was carried out by the British Antarctic Survey, and supported by NERC core funding and WWF grant NEB 2181.

This dataset comprises locational data highlighting the geographic position of emperor penguin colonies along the circumpolar Antarctic coastline as identified from satellite imagery (Sentinel2 and MAXAR VHR (Very High Resolution)) from August to December 2023. This dataset is part of the long-term monitoring of emperor penguin colonies and will support conservation efforts in Antarctica. This dataset was supported by NERC core funding and WWF grant GB095701.