Glacial Recession on Kilimanjaro

^{glacial recession in Africa: glacial recession on Kilimanjaro}

Glacial recession on Kilimanjaro

glacial recession
on Kilimanjaro

glacial recession link to Kilimanjaro trips

glacial recession 1984

Glacial recession is clearly visible on the two pictures of the southern icefields that were taken from near the Barranco Hut, the first in 1984, the second in 1998. The most evident changes have occurred on the Heim Glacier. In 1984 this is seen to have a "dog leg" in it; it reached down lower than any of the other glaciers in this, the central part of main southern icefields. In 1998 it is seen its upper reaches to have a much bigger gap separating it from its neighbouring glacier to the right. The bottom section, below the original dogleg, is totally missing and represents a loss of ice extending about 300m vertically.

1998

At one stage most of the summit of Kilimanjaro was covered by an ice cap, probably more than 100 metres deep. Glaciers extended well down the mountain forming moraine ridges, clearly visible now on the southern flanks down to about 4000m. At present only a small fraction of the glacial cover remains.

The remnants of the ice cap can be seen as the spectacular ice cliffs of the Northern and Eastern Icefields, and the longest glaciers are found on the precipitous southern and south-western flanks. If the present rate of glacial recession continues the majority of the glaciers on Kilimanjaro could vanish altogether in the next 50 years.

A recent study carried out on the snows of Xixibangma and Kilimanjaro has reinforced observations. It is now estimated that Kilimanjaro has lost 75% of its ice cover (by mass) since 1912.

trekking and climbing | map-guides | Email us | more mountain information

Comments and updates are most gratefully received. Please email us using email link above.
© Andrew Wielochowski 10/06/98. From the "Kilimanjaro Map and Guide"

ALW 16/9/1999 EGIN:{764EEF2E-BC11-45CF-8627-300CE1BA2219}-->