Glaciers of Kilimanjaro May Last Longer Than First Projected

The latest report from Australian researchers from the University of Innsbruck, suggests that the glaciers of Kilimanjaro will last at least 2 decades longer than previously projected.

BBC reports that data collected from the scientists' automated weather station and modeling work indicates these tropical glaciers should last well beyond 2040.

According to science reporter, Jonathan Amos, for their studies, the team has been using three automated instrument stations on the top of the mountain, collecting data on temperature, pressure, solar radiation, humidity and wind.

Mount Kilimanjaro (also known as Klima Njaro, meaning "shining mountain" in Swahili) located on the Tanzania-Kenya border, is a giant stratovolcano that has no recorded history of eruptions, though locals tell of activity around 170 years ago. It is the tallest free standing mountain rise in the world, rising 15,000 feet from the base and includes the highest peak in Africa at 19,340 feet.

The drastic recession of Kilimanjaro's glaciers has been a topic of research since the scientific exploration of the mountain when German geologist, Hans Meyer, ascended the mountain in 1887. This means that recession of these closely watched glaciers have been taking place for more than 120 years.

"Five years ago Kilimanjaro was being used as an icon for global warming," said glaciologist, Dr. Thomas Moelg. "We know now that this was far too simplistic a view."

Global warming refers to the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air in recent decades and its projected continuation. This increase in global temperature can cause changes in sea level rise; the amount and pattern of precipitation; and may also increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. It may affect agricultural yields; glacier recession, such as those on Kilimanjaro; decreased summer stream flows and species extinctions.

The 2007 data collected by the Innsbruck group is being compared to the conclusions drawn from the findings in the 2002 study led by Ohio State University ice core paleontologist, Lonnie Thompson, who reported that the ice on top of Africa's tallest peak, Uhuru Peak, would be gone between 2015 and 2020.

Glaciologist, Georg Kaser stated, "We have done different kinds of modeling and we expect the plateau glaciers to be gone roughly within 30 or 40 years from now, but we have a certain expectation that the slope glaciers may last longer."

The Innsbruck team's findings suggest that precipitation and not temperature is the key to the peak's future and that two-thirds of the ice that is lost goes straight into the atmosphere through sublimation - the direct conversion of snow and ice to water vapor

Amos reports that these findings also confirm that these glaciers do not play a vital role as a reservoir for water for local communities, unlike in the Andes and the Himalayas where some communities are dependent on summer melts in the mountains.

The University of Otago, New Zealand; and The University of Massachusetts also collaborated in the Innsbruck research.