Rwenzori glaciers: sentinels of climate change in Central/East Africa

Abstract ID: 3.14029 | Not reviewed | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Denis Samyn (1)
Jun, Uetake (2)

(1) University of Central Asia, 155 Qimatsho Imatshoev Street, 736000 Khorog, TJ
(2) Field Science Centre for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, N11W10, Kita, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0811, JAPAN

Categories: Cryo- & Hydrosphere
Keywords: Rwenzori glaciers, Tropical glaciers, African mountains, High altitude environment

Categories: Cryo- & Hydrosphere
Keywords: Rwenzori glaciers, Tropical glaciers, African mountains, High altitude environment

Abstract

Numerous studies have emerged in the last decade aimed at unraveling the intricate relationships between energy conditions, moisture circulation, and biogeosystems in tropical regions. However, the response of the climate in tropical Africa, particularly concerning its glaciers, to ongoing global changes remains poorly understood. The Rwenzori Mountains, located along the equator, serve as a critical area for understanding the sensitivity of tropical glaciers to historical, current, and future climatic changes. This region, whose glaciers are often regarded as one of the primary sources of the Nile, also offers valuable insights into how temperature and moisture influence ice mass and energy dynamics.
This research utilizes extensive field mapping conducted over several years, along with multi-decadal satellite imagery, to analyze the retreat patterns of Rwenzori glaciers and to provide updated estimates of their current and historical ice budgets. Given the generally small size of tropical glaciers, accurately delineating their contours is crucial for correlating glacier extent data with other environmental indicators. The study also addresses atmospheric correction and the application of various ice and snow detection algorithms to enhance monitoring efforts. Weather station data and time-lapse imagery are also utilized for the reconstruction of micro-meteorological conditions. Finally, the impact of glacier shrinking on local biodiversity are discussed based on field experiments.