Sunday, June 8, 2008

See posted comments (0) Post a Comment

Mt. Kilimanjaro

United Republic of Tanzania
Image does not exist Image does not exist
Glaciers on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro have decreased in area by 80 per cent since the early 20th century. While glacial retreat globally has been linked with rising air temperatures, there is evidence that the decline of Kilimanjaro's glaciers (see image below), along with changes in the boundaries of vegetation zones on the mountain, may be due in large part to a more local trend of decreasing precipitation that began in the 1880s.

It has also been found that water from the melting of Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers provide little, if any, water to lower elevation streams, as most ice is lost through sublimation; water from the small amount of melting evaporates very quickly. A greater impact on the mountain's hydrology may result from increased burning under the drier conditions since 1880. The upper limit of the forest zone has descended significantly, as nearly 15 per cent of Kilimanjaro's forest cover has been destroyed by fire since 1976. In the 1976 image above, the upper limit of the Erica excelsa forest is shown in yellow. By 2000 the upper limit had moved noticeably downslope (red line) as a result of frequent fires. Changes in the hydrological and ecological functioning of Kilimanjaro impact a growing population living on and around the mountain.

View detailed information

No comments: