Kilimanjaro Icefield

by wordlesstech team

The photo above showing the northern icefield of Mt. Kilimanjaro’s 19,039 ft (5,803 m) summit crater was acquired on September 25, 2012. A fresh snowfall covers the ice. Image credit: Kimberly Ann Casey Used with permission.

This was the first year on record in which this icefield, due to extensive dry season melting, divided into two sections. I was part of an expedition team measuring and monitoring the northern icefield.

Automated meteorological stations can be seen at top. Some of these stations have been collecting data since February 2000. The tents of expedition members are at the base of the ice.

Late September traditionally ends the longer annual dry season on Kilimanjaro, with the short rainy season (or ‘Vuli‘ in Swahili) beginning in October and lasting thru December. A short dry season exists in January and February, and the long rainy season (or ‘Masika’ in Swahili), when most of the snowfall occurs, typically extends from March through May.