Decline of Tropical Glaciers in East Africa | 24 Feb 2024
Recent analysis of high-resolution satellite images for the years 2021-2022 has revealed a concerning trend of disappearing ice in Africa, particularly in the tropical glaciers of East Africa.
- Tropical glaciers in East Africa, including those in the Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda / Democratic Republic of Congo), Mount Kenya (Kenya), and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), all within 3° latitude of the equator have significantly reduced in size.
- Kilimanjaro has retained only 8.6% of its glacier area since 1900, Mount Kenya 4.2%, and the Rwenzori Range 5.8%.
- Studies indicate that more than 90% of the modern glacier extent in East Africa has disappeared by the early 2020s.
- Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world (5,895 meters above sea level).
- The study underscores the critical importance of tropical glaciers as indicators of climate variability and climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for further research and conservation efforts in the face of this environmental challenge.
- Tropical glaciers are typically located near the Equator and within the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), making them sensitive to climate variations.
- The ITCZ is where the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge near the equator.