The ice is melting at a rate of 50 centimeters per year, and the world will soon lose the wonder of an “equatorial snow mountain.”
Introduction
Against the backdrop of global warming, the beautiful yet melancholic snows of Mount Kilimanjaro will begin to bid the world farewell permanently in three years; rising seawater is causing the classic and romantic city of Venice to sink at a rate of 0.5 centimeters per year; wind erosion and soil loss have left residents of China’s Three-North Shelterbelt facing the difficult choice of staying in their homeland or relocating...
These are not scenes from movies, nor fictional plots from science fiction, but real situations happening around us today. What is worrying is that at the recently concluded 19th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw, Poland, developed and developing countries still failed to align on climate change goals, which means the deterioration of the global climate will continue, and more parts of our global village may face retaliatory threats from environmental disasters.
Advocating for global environmental protection, Guangzhou Daily has been taking action. Since 2009, Guangzhou Daily has launched large-scale reporting projects for three consecutive years, such as “Visiting Disappearing Islands,” “China Environmental Protection Tour,” and “Global Environmental Protection Tour.” Reporters were dispatched to conduct on-site interviews in the Antarctic and Arctic, and visited countries and regions on the verge of extinction such as Tuvalu and the Maldives, truthfully and comprehensively showcasing the environmental disasters faced locally and the resilience and helplessness of people fighting against these threats, attracting attention and discussion both domestically and internationally. This year, while developing and developed countries were engaged in tough negotiations at the Warsaw Climate Change Conference, with sponsorship from GAC Honda, reporters from Guangzhou Daily fanned out to multiple locations including the equatorial snow mountain — Mount Kilimanjaro, the water city — Venice, and domestic sites such as Crescent Lake, the South China Sea’s Sansha, and the northwestern shelterbelt, focusing on changes in water environments, air quality, temperatures, and living conditions under the influence of global warming.
Today, we present the first environmental report in this series — “Equatorial Snow Mountain” Mount Kilimanjaro.
American literary master Ernest Hemingway once wrote “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” describing this beautiful yet sorrowful peak of Africa, captivating the hearts of many. But perhaps even Hemingway could not have imagined that scientists would issue a global warning 70 years after his novel was published: the ice of Mount Kilimanjaro is melting at a rate of 50 centimeters per year. It is expected that by 2023 at the earliest, the “unbelievably white” snows of Kilimanjaro will become a permanent legend.
This is definitely not an exaggeration. Our reporter took a 16-hour flight via Doha and Nairobi to reach the town of Moshi at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, embarking on a journey to explore Africa’s highest peak. Observing the snow-capped mountain from all angles and scaling to the summit, the reporter personally experienced that this world-famous “equatorial snow peak” is suffering from the trauma caused by melting.
Reporter’s eyewitness account:
Snowline recedes 1,000 meters toward the summit over ten years
On the flight from Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, to Kilimanjaro Airport, there is a “special highlight” that excites passengers — getting a panoramic view of Mount Kilimanjaro from the plane, and even looking down at the snow-capped peak from an altitude of 8,000 meters. Just as the reporter and other passengers prepared their cameras, waiting for this moment, the female pilot told everyone: “There isn’t much snow on the mountain visible from the plane anymore. Compared to what I saw when I was a trainee pilot ten years ago, the snow on the mountain has melted a lot, a lot, a lot.” The pilot emphasized the word “a lot” with deliberate stress, repeating it three times.
The pilot’s words were no exaggeration. After arriving at the town of Moshi at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and seeing the “true face” of the mountain for the first time, the reporter also felt heavy-hearted:
The snow that should have been the most eye-catching feature of the vast and magnificent mountain peak was “heartbreaking.” There was not even a full cover of white snow; even at the summit, the snow was sparse, scattered like cream dollops atop a slice of bread, barely clinging to the top. From a distance, it looked like a balding old man, with only a small tuft of snow at the very top, while the rest of the mountain was largely exposed gray rock, creating a stark contrast between the gray and the white.
Snowline begins at 4,200 meters
A report provided to our newspaper by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) further confirmed the reporter’s concerns: in 1800, the ice coverage of Mount Kilimanjaro was 20 square kilometers; by 2007, this figure had shrunk to 1.85 square kilometers. In other words, the snow-capped peaks visible to the naked eye are the remaining less than 10% of the mountain’s former ice, and the cold statistics show that the snows of Mount Kilimanjaro are disappearing.
If perennial snow once draped Mount Kilimanjaro in a sacred and noble cloak, then now that cloak is peeling away, revealing the mountain’s originally gray skin.
Accompanied by a local named Jeffery, the reporter spent six days climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. For the first two days, they traversed tropical rainforests and temperate vegetation. On the third day, they saw the snowline of Mount Kilimanjaro for the first time, at an altitude of 4,200 meters.
“Ten years ago, you could see the snowline as early as 3,200 meters,” Jeffery said, a trace of worry crossing his face: the continuous melting of ice and snow has pushed the snowline upward.
Indeed, even when reaching an altitude of 4,000 meters, under the strong sunlight, the temperature did not drop below zero; instead, it felt quite warm. To the reporter’s disbelief, even wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt felt a bit hot. Here, it was no longer possible to see any ice or snow, replaced instead by trickling streams. Passing through small canyons, the surroundings changed from wilderness to swamp, with wet, slippery ground covered in gravel. Two large plants unique to Mount Kilimanjaro, Senecios and halfman, also grew here.
“In the past 20 years, the natural landscapes of the tropical and temperate zones on Mount Kilimanjaro have expanded, while the polar zone has been encroached upon. The snowline has been receding steadily toward the summit, and this trend is accelerating,” Jeffery said.
Thin snow melts with a single step
Jeffery led the reporter to the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro, where the snow melts the fastest. The reporter observed that 80% of the western mountainside had lost its snow cover, exposing soil and rocks.
What about the southern side, then? The reporter crossed snowfields at an altitude of 4,600 meters to reach the southern part of Mount Kilimanjaro. Snow covered the ground along the way, and the snow on the southern side of the mountain was visibly more than on the western side, though still not abundant, with clear signs of melting. Particularly surprising to the reporter was that even where snow remained, it was very thin, measuring just 10 centimeters thick. With a light step, the snow would depress and quickly melt into water.
Even more worrying is that the melting snow is spreading toward the summit. Passing by the ancient Breachwall Glacier at an altitude of 4,600 meters, the reporter saw large areas of exposed rocks and soil. Jeffery said he had heard from village elders that this area used to have snow over 6 meters thick, but now finding snow 1 meter deep is considered lucky. Jeffery said that currently, only the summit at 5,895 meters might maintain thick snow, but that is the highest point and the last bastion of ice and snow melting.
Jeffery also said that Mount Kilimanjaro is known as the “Temple of God” and holds a lofty status in Africa. “Our hometown still maintains annual prayers and blessings for Mount Kilimanjaro, a tradition passed down through generations. But I don’t know if my descendants will still be able to see the snows of Kilimanjaro, or if they’ll think it’s just a legend.”
Ecological Warning:
Rivers dry up and animals flee their habitats
Interestingly, as the snow on Mount Kilimanjaro nears its final countdown to disappearance, the local economy has actually welcomed new business opportunities and more job prospects.
The driver, Wilson, who picked up the reporter at the airport, was extremely warm and hospitable. After learning about the purpose of the trip, he enthusiastically shared information about Mount Kilimanjaro throughout the journey. At 25 years old, most of his peers in the village have already left home to seek work. “What kind of jobs pay the most? Of course, being a tourist driver, mountain guide, or porter. Aside from relatively high wages, the tips from tourists are also quite substantial,” said Wilson. He added that an increasing number of tourists are flocking to the area to catch a glimpse of Kilimanjaro’s last remaining snow before it vanishes entirely.
The Tanzania National Parks Authority provided our reporter with data on the number of climbers visiting Mount Kilimanjaro over the past three years: 52,654 in 2011, 56,756 in 2012, and 55,553 by November 2013. Mallya, a staff member at the authority, told the reporter that the number of international climbers has been on an upward trend in recent years.
“The snow is melting, and our business is booming, but this might just be a temporary economic boom,” said Remmy, the general manager of Springlands Hotel, with a wry smile. “Almost all the tourists coming now are here to see the snow on the mountain. But what if the snow-capped peaks disappear? Will people still come?” he asked.
Remmy told the reporter that efforts are being made to protect Mount Kilimanjaro. Local hotels and tour companies have been advocating for environmental conservation. They do not provide single-use items in hotel rooms and also organize employees and nearby residents to plant trees on the mountain.
Finding water sources on the mountain is becoming increasingly difficult.
Dried-up rivers, withered crops, and species migration... The melting of Mount Kilimanjaro’s ice and snow has had the most devastating impact on the region’s ecosystem. Lonnie Gene Thompson, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a professor at the Byrd Polar Research Center of Ohio State University, found in his research that glaciers on the mountain now retain only about 4% to 5% of their meltwater. Animals are suffering from a lack of water sources and can only rely on rainfall or snowfall to replenish them.
When the reporter ascended to an altitude of 3,700 meters, they personally experienced how precious streams are on the mountain. After setting up camp, the climbing team’s chef, Mo, had to leave the campsite to find a stream and fetch water for drinking and cooking. “Streams are becoming fewer and fewer, and we have to go farther to find water sources.”
Mo went with the reporter to look for a stream. When they found a small stream about 800 meters from the camp, the reporter saw that this “stream” was merely a few drops of water trickling down from the rocks—so scarce it was almost dry, with water barely clinging to the rocks as it dripped down.
The environment is deteriorating. Should we stay or flee?
“Ten years ago, when the snow and ice were not melting as severely as they are now, we could still see animals like antelopes, sunbirds, monkeys, and peacocks while climbing. But now, after the snow and ice have melted, we no longer see these animals,” said Jeffery. He noted that while animal migration may not have a significant direct impact on the residents, everyone knows that animals don’t leave without reason—they must feel that the living conditions here have become uninhabitable.
“We’re very worried. After the animals migrate, will we be next?” Jeffery’s melancholic eyes revealed a sense of unease.
Even more dire is the fact that rivers have dried up due to the melting snow and ice, forcing villagers at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro to seek new homes due to water shortages.
In Kambi ya Raha village, located about 30 kilometers from Mount Kilimanjaro and home to around 10,000 residents, the reporter found no trees and withered crops in the fields. Mohamed, a 26-year-old villager who was born and raised there, led the reporter to observe the only river that the villagers depend on for survival. “The river originates from Mount Kilimanjaro. Meltwater from the snow and rain flows down from the mountain, and villagers use it for daily drinking and washing. However, in recent years, the water level has been continuously dropping. Even during the wet season in June, the water level has dropped by more than one meter compared to before.”
“Without water, we can’t farm. Some people have already moved to villages with better water access just to make a living,” said Mohamed. He added that nearly 1,000 people have left the village over the past decade. Mohamed admitted that if the river continues to dry up and clean drinking water becomes unavailable, “we’ll have to think about what to do—stay or leave—when the time comes.”
“The decision to leave is painful. There’s no looting or invasion, yet we have to choose whether to stay or abandon our homes. Isn’t that a bit ridiculous? Isn’t it a bit cruel?” said Mohamed.
Scientists predict:
The first glacier could disappear within three years.
“In January this year, we took the latest aerial photos. Analysis shows that from January 2000 to January 2013, in just 13 years, 40% of the remaining ice and snow on the mountain has disappeared,” said Lonnie Gene Thompson, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a professor at the Byrd Polar Research Center of Ohio State University, in an exclusive interview with our reporter. He publicly shared the latest monitoring data for the first time and did not deny that the melting is accelerating. “From 1912 to January 2000, the ice cover on Mount Kilimanjaro had already shrunk by 88.3%. If global warming does not improve, at the current rate of melting, Mount Kilimanjaro may not escape its fate and could vanish completely.”
Greenhouse gas emissions are largely to blame.
Thompson is one of the most renowned Western scholars studying Mount Kilimanjaro and other glaciers around the world. With over 30 years of in-depth research on global glaciers, he has received the U.S. National Medal of Science, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement—often referred to as the Nobel Prize of the environmental field—and was named a Time magazine Environmental Hero in 2008.
Thompson said that the glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro have a history of over 2,000 years. Now, both their size and thickness are rapidly shrinking. This not only means the loss of a unique equatorial wonder but could also lead to millions of people losing access to drinking water sources.
Thompson said with sadness that the remaining ice layers on the mountain are thinning year by year at a rate of approximately 0.5 meters per year. “Between 2000 and 2009, monitoring data from our observation points showed that the thickness of the Furtwängler Glacier had been reduced by half. It is expected that the Furtwängler Glacier will be the first to completely disappear from Mount Kilimanjaro by 2017 at the earliest. And given the current state of the global environment, this moment may even come sooner.” This was also the first time Thompson publicly predicted a specific timeline for the complete disappearance of this glacier.
Thompson insisted to our reporter that over the next 10 to 20 years, the melting of ice and snow on Mount Kilimanjaro will continue. It is expected that within 10 years, the mountain’s unique “equatorial snow-capped peak” phenomenon will disappear forever.
A report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) largely confirms Thompson’s statements. The report pointed out that the melting of snow at the summit and the disappearance of glaciers are extremely severe. From 1912 to 1953, the glaciers at the peak shrank by about 1% annually; from 1989 to 2007, the shrinkage rate increased to 2.5% per year. If glaciers continue to melt at this rate, the glaciers at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro are expected to disappear completely between 2022 and 2033.
What is causing the glaciers to melt? Scientists have varying opinions and analyses, but most agree that global warming and greenhouse gas emissions are major contributors.
In an interview with our newspaper, Thompson analyzed that global warming is the primary cause of the melting glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro. “In the next 20 to 30 years, the global average temperature is expected to rise by 0.6 degrees Celsius, which is enough to cause the complete disappearance of tropical glaciers like those on Mount Kilimanjaro,” Thompson said. He also added that any increase in pollution or other factors causing climate instability could accelerate glacier melting.
However, some scientists believe there are other main reasons for the melting of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers. Nicholas Pepin, a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth in the UK, believes that excessive deforestation in the region is the primary cause of the glacier melt.
Wang Zidi, a project manager at the United Nations Environment Programme who has long monitored changes in the world’s glaciers, told our newspaper that global climate affects glacier melting, glacier melting alters the local natural environment, and changes in the natural environment, in turn, affect the local climate.