Papua's tropical glaciers face total disappearance within two years

The tropical glaciers of Papua, Indonesia, are nearing total disappearance. Located in the Sudirman Range near the equator, the snow and permanent ice on peaks such as Puncak Jaya (also known as Carstensz Pyramid) are expected to vanish entirely within the next one to two years.

Glacier cover around the peak has seen a massive reduction, shrinking from approximately 1,900 hectares in the 19th century to about 16 hectares today. These glaciers represent the last remaining tropical ice between the Andes and the Himalayas.

Scientists utilize ice cores from these slopes to study climate history and atmospheric conditions, including changes in the tropical Pacific and Western Pacific Warm pool. However, researchers warn that this vital climate archive is disappearing before it can be fully studied. The retreat is attributed to a warming atmosphere caused by human activity.