Encore - Kilimanjaro Icefield in September 2012

January 13, 2018

KilimanjaroIcefieldP1000650s (2)

Today and every Saturday Earth Science Picture of the Day invites you to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers' Choice polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating images.

Photographer: Kimberly Ann Casey
Summary Author: Kimberly Ann Casey

October 2012 Viewer's Choice The photo above showing the northern icefield of Mount Kilimanjaro's 19,039 ft (5,803 m) summit crater was acquired on September 25, 2012. A fresh snowfall covers the ice. 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 through 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.

Photo Details: Camera  Panasonic DMC-GF5; Lens: LUMIX G VARIO 45-200/F4.0-5.6; Focal Length: 115mm (35mm equivalent: 238mm); Aperture: f/11.0; Exposure Time: 0.0005 s (1/2000); ISO equiv: 160; Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5.1 Windows. 

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