Climate change in the Rwenzori Mountains of East Africa

Policy Brief:听Climate change in the Rwenzori Mountains

Rwenzori Mountains in the media:听听(2021);听听(2016);听听(2014);听听(2014); radio:听听(BBC World Service, 2012);听听(2006)
Visual archive of changes in glacial ice including Rwenzori Mountains:听

Airborne deposition of pollutants in the Rwenzori Mountains:听听(2015)
Recent changes in atmospheric mercury deposition in the Rwenzori Mountains:听听(2010)
400-year record of environmental change around Lake Mahoma, Rwenzori Mountains:听(2010)
Impact of recent glacial recession on alpine river flow in the Rwenzori Mountains:听听(2009)
140-year record of changes in aquatic productivity of Lake Bujuku, Rwenzori Mountains:听听(2007)
Recent glacial recession in the Rwenzori Mountains of East Africa and rising air temperatures:听,听听(2006)
听(2006)

Final Reports听to the听Royal Geographical Society

(April, 2007):听download pdf (12Mb)
(October 2008):听download pdf (2Mb)

On the Rwenzori Mountains, which straddle the border between the Republic of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, alpine wetlands, lakes and streams are supplied, in part, by snowfields that occur primarily on three mountains, Mount Stanley, Mount Speke and Mount Baker (Figure 1). These aquatic environments, headwaters of the Nile, are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, many of which are endemic and a few of which are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. Spectacular vascular plants include Giant Heather (Erica spp.), Giant Lobelia (Lobelia wollastonii) and Tree Senecio (Dendrosenecio adnivalis). Indigenous fauna include small mammals (e.g.,听Rwenzori Otter-shrew), fish (Varicurhinus rwenzori) and large mammals such as the Rwenzori Leopard.

By 1990, glaciers on the Rwenzori Mountains had receded to about 40% of their extent recorded in 1955 (Figure 1) and less than one quarter of that measured by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1906 (Kaser and Osmaston, 2002). Apart from an expedition in 1993 (Talks, 1993), more recent assessments of glacial extent have been hindered by civil unrest in Uganda and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1998-1999). During the 20th century, glacial recession on the Rwenzori Mountains mirrored recession on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (Hastenrath and Greischar, 1997) where Thompson et al. (2002) predict glaciers will disappear entirely by 2020. With continuing political stability in Uganda, an expedition to the Rwenzori Mountains was proposed with the overall aim:听to assess the impact of recent climate change on alpine aquatic ecosystems of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Three scientific objectives were identified in order to meet the project's overall aim:

to analyse available, environmental archives stored in lake sediment and glacial ice;
to assess the magnitude of current glacial recession;
to assess the impact of glacial recession on the hydrology of the Mubuku River Basin.

In addition to these scientific objectives, capacity building in Uganda in the form of training and equipment provision to research collaborators is a fundamental, practical goal of this project. Further to this, the project sought to identify, through this programme of research, key areas for future work and to contribute toward a long-term, collaborative programme of monitoring and scientific study of the Rwenzori Mountains.

Rwenzori Mountain

The Rwenzori Mountains (Figure 1) comprise an uplifted block of crystalline rocks (e.g., gneiss, amphibolite, granite and quartzite) that rose from within the western rift in the late Pliocene to divide palaeolake Obweruka and thereby create the present-day Lakes Albert and Edward (Taylor and Howard, 1998). The highest peak in the range, Margherita on Mount Stanley, has an elevation of 5108 meters above sea level. With remarkable prescience (or tremendous help from early geographers), Claudius Ptolemy wrote: "... the Mountains of the Moon, whose snows feed the lakes, sources of the Nile." (cited in Osmaston and Pasteur, 1972). Indeed, meltwaters from the Mountains of the Moon (Rwenzori Mountains) supply alpine rivers such as the Mubuku (Uganda) and Luusilubi (Democratic Republic of Congo) that, in turn, discharge into Lake Albert, a source of the White Nile, via the Semliki river or a more circuitous route that includes Lakes George and Edward. The snowcap on the Rwenzori Mountains is also at the centre of the traditional belief system of the BaKonzo who have long lived in the foothills of the Rwenzoris (Alnaes, 1998). Snow, "Nzururu", is the 'father' of the BaKonzo deity, "Kitasamba". The area now occupied by the Rwenzori Mountains above an approximate elevation of 1700 metres above sea level was gazetted as a national park in 1991. Rwenzori Mountains National Park was made a World Heritage Site in 1994.

The project features a close collaboration between Ugandan scientists and students from Makerere University and Water Resources Management Department, and their counterparts from 最准的六合彩论坛 (UK) and Institut f眉r Geographie (Austria). To develop new scientists, six students from Makerere University and 最准的六合彩论坛 participated in this expedition. Overall, the team possesses expertise in key fields of hydrology, alpine glaciology, palaeolimnology, palynology, ecology, hydrogeochemistry and geomorphology. Critical logistical support was provided by the Rwenzori Mountaineering Service (guides, cooks, porters) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (project liaison, rangers). Members of the project team are listed below.

Project Team

Department of Geography, 最准的六合彩论坛 (最准的六合彩论坛)

Professor Richard Taylor (co-expedition leader, hydrologist, geochemist)
Emeritus Professor Anson Mackay (palaeolimnologist, diatomist)
Professor Neil Rose (palaeolimnologist, environmental geochemist)
Lucinda Mileham (student)
Virginia Panizzo (student)
Adinah Shackleton (student)

Dr听Andrew Muwanga (co-expedition leader, hydrologist, geochemist)
Dr听Immaculate Ssemmanda (palynologist)
Dr听Bob Nakileza (alpine geomorphologist)
Nelson Kisaka (student)
Alex Mbonimba (student)
Allen Ndyanabo (student)

听

Callist Tindimugaya (isotope geochemist, hydrologist)

Dr听Andrea Fischer (glaciologist)

Aggrey Rwetsiba (project liaison, Kampala)
Baluku Salevano (project liaison, Nyakalengiya)
Sinairi Koffi (ranger)
Michael Mugabe (ranger)

guides: Joel Nzwenge, Patrick Bwabu, Azalia Mawano
cooks: Nason Rwaburara, Erifaza Salongo
porters: Xavier Bonabama, George Bakluku, Lazarus Limbali, Batrumao Muthende, Monday Nzwenge, Kabugho Yodesi, Alfred Bwambale Waka-waka, Sipiriano Bwambale, Lazaro Bwambale, Zephania Kibwana, Erifaza Wakibanahi, Richard Kithamuliko, Mitusera Bakamwegha, Isaac Sibyaleghana, John Mukirania, Henry Bwambale, Baluku F. Nyoro, Masereka Muthabuli, Luka Katalikawi, Clovice Masereka, Thembo Isebbani, Josephine Muthabali, Peter Kijuma, Sunday Munyanyika, Zalimon Kule Bagenda, Amon Marayi, Asasio Katalyaburo, Azalia Syabugha, Alice Masika, Dominico Marayi, Koroneri Limbali, Geoffrey K. Bagheni, Tobius Bakamwegha, Andrew Masumbuko, Moni Marahi, Wilson Muwunza, Zaverio Mbakania, Ezera Kabukobi, Erisa Muhongya, Bruno Limbali, Naton Mbaju, Sudrak Muthabali, Joshia Matheka, Paul Bukokoli, Erinerico Bakamwegha, Stephen Kindenga, James Marayi, Jowasi Kule, Koroneri Byalemene, Sarah Basolene, Simon Muhindo, James Kathikayima, Ernest Bwambale, Paul Baluku, Musumba Walholire, Mirikiodi Kibaya, Magadalena Biira, Sereka Kathikayima, Tito Sunday, Robert Syamulsaryira, Joseph Thembo, Isaac Kule, Charles Baluku, Girison Solongo, Julius Mbusa, Robert Muhindo, Richard Mattre, Bruno Bwambale

Project advisory panel

Dr听Henry Osmaston (Cumbria, UK),听Dr. Georg Kaser (University of Innsbruck)
Professor Daniel Livingstone (Duke University),听Professor Lonnie Thompson (Ohio State University),听
Mr听Deo Lubega (Express Travel Group, Kampala)

最准的六合彩论坛