Mt Kilimanjaro - Quintessential monitor of global warming?

Of volcanoes and glaciers

One has to be careful drawing the conclusion that the retreat of glaciers is evidence of climate change. The glaciers of Mt Kilimanjaro in equatorial Africa have been referred to in American Scientist as a poster child for global climate change. This mountain has lost 90% of its glacial cover since first climbed in 1889.

Is this enough evidence to prove climate change?

Some more observations by Professor Neil Phillips a geologist in a letter to the AGE 30 July 2008, may help.

"Most of the glacial retreat on Kilimanjaro happened before World War I - that is, almost a century ago. Second, because of its altitude of 5895 metres and position three degrees south of the equator, Kilimanjaro does not have a hot and a cold season, and the temperature at the summit rarely exceeds minus 3 degrees. Glaciers do not melt in this temperature range.

Third, glaciers extend down from the outer crater edges of Kilimanjaro but are absent in the crater, where there is a 20-metre ice wall; these glaciers appear to be retreating from the top.

More likely than climate change, the Kilimanjaro glaciers could be retreating because of increased volcanic activity below the crater. More volcanic heat means melting of the snowfall rather than replenishment of the glaciers' source.

We cannot prove Kilimanjaro's glaciers are retreating because of volcanic heat, but we need to be careful before jumping to conclusions that the poster child of glacier retreat is support for global warming. The main message here is that the obvious answer may not be the correct one.”