Understanding the impacts of climate change on Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Since September 2004 multiple weather stations have been set up on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, ranging from 900 to 5803 m above sea-level. This transect has amongst the largest elevation range in the world. It was set up to monitor long term changes in climate along the elevational gradient and has resulted in several key findings.

Weather stations installed in 2004 at 22 locations across Kilimanjaro from SW to NE slope. Temperature and moisture data recorded every hour until present. This allows us to measure and understand both the mountain climate and its variation with elevation, and how climate change is influencing the mountain.

The mountain climate is strongly controlled by the vegetation on the lower slopes of the mountain. Our data allows us to monitor temperature and moisture changes at various elevations. During the day moisture moves upslope and this contributes in some cases to the snowfall near the summit. Over the last 18 years most sites have shown some warming, and this is more pronounced near the summit (at higher elevations) which is an example of elevation-dependent warming.