Disappearing Ice Fields of Kilimanjaro
Why the Ice Fields of Kilimanjaro are Shrinking and Thinning
Nov 8, 2009
In the book The Snows of Kilimanjaro Hemingway described Mount Kilimanjaro "as wide as all the world, great, high and unbelievably white in the sun". Standing at a height of 5,895 metres, it is well known as one of the most accessible high mountain summits in the world. Each year approximately 10,800 visitors travel to see its dramatic ice fields but the iconic image of the huge mountain draped in white ice may soon be a thing of the past. A study by the Ohio State University, which expanded on research undertaken in 2000, indicates that the ice fields of Mount Kilimanjaro may disappear in the next two decades.
The study is the first time researches have calculated the volume of ice lost from the fields. The data show that 85% of the ice on the mountain in 1912 was lost by 2007 and 26% of the ice on the mountain in 2000 has now gone. This loss is not only from the area of the ice fields decreasing but also from the thinning of the ice. The Northern and Southern ice fields have thinned by 1.9 metres and 5.1 metres respectively and the Furtwangler Glacier has lost half its thickness since the original study in 2000.
While the shrinking and thinning of ice fields on Mount Kilimanjaro is fact, pinpointing the drivers for this change is not so easy. The findings of the study indicate that the rise in global temperatures is likely to be a major factor in the ice loss although changes in precipitation and cloudiness are also contributing. From studying the 49 metre depth of the Northern ice field which outlines 11,700 years of history, the researchers have ascertained that evidence of surface melting only appears in the upper 65 centimetres. This indicates that the climatic drivers' for the ice loss occurring today is unique in the 11,700 year history.
How the loss of the Kilimanjaro ice fields will affect Tanzania is unknown. Mount Kilimanjaro is only one of fifteen national parks in Tanzania but it would seem likely that the loss of the ice fields would have some negative impact on tourist numbers. Figures from the World Tourism and Travel Council show tourism currently contributes 9% of the country's gross domestic product and provides 685,000 jobs (7.1% of total employment) and predictions are for these figures to rise over the coming years. The loss of Kilimanjaro's ice fields may have far reaching impacts for the country.
Whether the mountain's ice fields can be saved is not known however detailed recording of the climate conditions around the mountain is the first step in creating a solid picture of what is happening. The local people have long recognised that the ice on the mountain is disappearing and while this anecdotal evidence is now confirmed by scientific measurement, the fear remains that the iconic image of a snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro will soon be a memory.
Sources
Thompson, L.G. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA doi: 10.1073/pnas.0906029106 (2009).
Tanzaniaparks.comWorld Travel & Tourism Council - Tanzania Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2009
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