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Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Earth at Night 2012: The Black Marble by NASA Earth Observatory
Kilimanjaro itself is the dark oval, slightly brighter in the center (snow?). Directly south is the small city of Moshi, with the lights of small villages visible to the NW of Moshi (1 million people live around the mountain). The city of Arusha is the brightest city visible here, just south of Mt. Meru and the National Park. Finally, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is equidistant between and south of Arusha & Moshi.
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unconformity by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Kersten Glacier margin by Doug Hardy
How did this form?
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Meltwater... by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Kersten Glacier margin by Doug Hardy
but from where? Englacial, supraglacial, or from the vertical wall? Note accretion below horizontal surface, covering the stratigraphy.
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steam by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Reusch Crater by Doug Hardy
Kilimanjaro is NOT an extinct volcano!
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Glacier ice by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Reusch Crater by Doug Hardy
Remnants of the former Eastern Ice Field. Way to the left (and badly over-exposed), portions of the Northern Ice Field are visible.
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Mt. Meru by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Kersten Glacier margin by Doug Hardy
70 km distant
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ice & snow by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Furtwängler Glacier, western portion by Doug Hardy
Note the color / brightness differences in this snapshot. The whitest areas are fresh snow which accumulated 2 and 3 days earlier, the darkest areas are wet-season snow (e.g., April) that has gotten dirty, and most of the rest (bluish in color) is 'old' glacier ice. Above and to the left of this snapshot is another, less-common form of ice formed by refreezing of meltwater from the horizontal surface.
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lost explorer... by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Furtwängler Glacier, western portion by Doug Hardy
for scale
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ablation stake by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Furtwängler Glacier, western portion by Doug Hardy
This is a 48 mm diameter PVC tube installed in a hole drilled into the ice. It serves as a reference for changes in surface height, which occur due to mass gains (e.g., snowfall) and losses (ablation).
There are several other stakes on this glacier, some of which are easier to see than this one!
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climbers by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Furtwängler Glacier, western portion by Doug Hardy
Four porters crossing toward "Crater Camp" after ascending the Western Breach route.
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Baobabs by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Tarangire National Park by Doug Hardy
Although distant, this species is instantly recognizable.
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Acacia by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Tarangire National Park by Doug Hardy
Herbivores with short tongues need not attempt to eat.
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transient snowline by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Quelccaya Ice Cap outlet glacier by Doug Hardy
The glacier surface here is a mosiac of new snow (1-2 weeks old), seasonal snow (Dec-March wet season), and glacier ice exposed for years to decades. Not the differences in brightness, which has a tremendous impact on the amount of energy absorbed at the surface - and available for melting and sublimation.
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higher water level by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Moraine-dammed lake at Qori Kalis by Doug Hardy
Zoom capability is one of the great features of GigaPans, permitting discoveries! This feature was recognized while exploring the image, suggesting a stable interval of higher water level; it appears to match a height shown in several other locations. Does this other height reflect seasonal variability, or longer-term change??
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dust by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Moraine-dammed lake at Qori Kalis by Doug Hardy
What appears to be an optical issue here is actually a cloud of dust, rising up after rocks rolled down the moraine into the lake. All around Quelccaya Ice Cap, fresh surfaces have been exposed by recession, creating a dynamic environment.
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Ausangate by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Cordillera Vilcanota Peaks by Doug Hardy
Highest peak in the Cordillera Vilcanota, and second highest to Coropuna in southern Peru. Typically climbed from the other side.
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snowcover & meltwater by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis detail by Doug Hardy
This snapshot illustrates the thin mantle of snow from a relatively uncommon June snowfall event. Note how bright the surface appears, which reflects considerably more solar radiation than would a darker ice surface. Also visible is a large icicle, formed either by runoff from the glacier surface, or from englacier movement of meltwater.
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dead ice by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis detail by Doug Hardy
Recession of Qori Kalis has slowed now that the glacier no longer extends into the lake. In this snapshot, notice how thin the margin is; hummocky features suggest that there is little flow, with a moraine covering over the 'dead' ice.
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stratigraphy by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis detail by Doug Hardy
Annual increments of accumulation are visible here and in other areas of the image. As the glacier flows toward the icefall, crevasses and deformation disturbs the lateral continuity, which is why ice cores are ideally drilled at 'center' of an ice cap from little flow typically occurs. One objective of our research is to quantify annual accumulation on Quelccaya, and determine whether the accumulation rate is changing.
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icefall by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis detail by Doug Hardy
Due to glacier motion, icefalls are often active and constantly-changing. This collapse looks quite recent.
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glacier stratigraphy by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis outlet glacier at Quelccaya Ice Cap - 2012 by Doug Hardy
Quelccaya Ice Cap adds an annual increment of net accumulation each year at the summit, preserving a record of environmental conditions. These are visible here to a limited extent, and in greater detail here: <http://www.geo.umass.edu/climate/quelccaya/diuca/paleoclimate/index.html>
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geographer by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis outlet glacier at Quelccaya Ice Cap - 2012 by Doug Hardy
We spent hours at this overlook watching rockfall on the moraines, raptors hunting, and just contemplating rates of change. Why do those other 2 guys look alike?
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bofedal by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis outlet glacier at Quelccaya Ice Cap - 2012 by Doug Hardy
Meltwater runoff from Andean glaciers provides essential water resources to human and natural systems, especially during the extended dry season. Wetlands (bofedals) such as these sustain an amazing diversity of life; without glaciers the bofedals and dependent ecological communities will disappear.
<http://www.geo.umass.edu/climate/quelccaya/diuca.html>0 comments
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house by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis outlet glacier at Quelccaya Ice Cap - 2012 by Doug Hardy
Within this valley reside some of the world's toughest people, living at 5,000 m (16,500 feet) with no electricity, running water or heat in a brutally-harsh climate.
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alpaca by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis outlet glacier at Quelccaya Ice Cap - 2012 by Doug Hardy
Numerous alpaca are scattered about in the valley below the lake, with lesser numbers of llama, sheep, cows and horses. Vicuna - the only 'wild' Andean camelids here - are also present, in increasing numbers.
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dry-season snowfall by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Qori Kalis outlet glacier at Quelccaya Ice Cap - 2012 by Doug Hardy
Fresh snow seen here and elsewhere in the image is from an early-July snowfall event. Although of minor magnitude, patches of this snow remained even after our cloudless week of dry weather in the area. Sublimation requires tremendous amounts of energy!
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Corral by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Cordillera Vilcanota by Doug Hardy
Likely for alpaca or vicuña. Snowcover in July is not typical!
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Norton Rat's Pub by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Plaza de Armas, Cusco Perú by Doug Hardy
Nice place for breakfast, burgers, beer or whatever, overlooking the Plaza de Armas.
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Gargoyle? by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Plaza de Armas, Cusco Perú by Doug Hardy
No... but not sure what this person is doing!
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Band-tailed Gull by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Paracas by Doug Hardy
A fairly common resident, breeding on offshore islands.
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Snowy Egret by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Paracas by Doug Hardy
Hunting from floating algae
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Museo de Paracas by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Paracas by Doug Hardy
Nice museum within the Reserva Nacional de Paracas, walking distance from town. Natural history, geology, and more!
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Peruvian Pelicans by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Paracas by Doug Hardy
Awakening from their roost and preparing for another day of fishing, and entertaining tourists.
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Tourism boats by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Paracas by Doug Hardy
Tour boat operators prepare for another day of transporting tourists to Isla Batista.
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Fishing boats by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Paracas by Doug Hardy
Part of the Paracas fishing boat fleet.
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Hardigg Case by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Quelccaya Ice Cap weather station, Perú by Doug Hardy
One of several Hardigg cases we use to transport instruments and tools; this and others have been on dozens of such expeditions. Strong, waterproof rotomolded polyethylene, and made in western Massachusetts.
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Sibinacocha by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Panorama from Quelccaya Ice Cap by Doug Hardy
Looking slightly north of west. Sibinacocha is a reservoir with considerable biodiversity at nearly 5,000 m elevation, impounding 110 million cubic meters of water (0.1 km^3). "Cocha" is the Quechua word for lake.
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Solar Panel by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Quelccaya Ice Cap weather station, Perú by Doug Hardy
The AWS is powered by sealed lead acid batteries, charged by solar panels. Three independent systems utilize 5, 20, and 50 watts of panels, respectively. Most of this is required for the fans which aspirated some of the temperature and humidity probes.
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Temperature & Humidity #3 by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Quelccaya Ice Cap weather station, Perú by Doug Hardy
A cluttered view of a Met One radiation shield (the white disk and tube), compatible with that used by the US CRN (Climate Reference Network); well tested and well proven. Inside are 3 PRT air temp probes and a Vaisala HMT337 humidity probe.
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Temperature & Humidity #1 by Doug Hardy from the GigaPan Quelccaya Ice Cap weather station, Perú by Doug Hardy
This is a Gill 16-plate radiation shield, housing a Rotronic MP101A sensor which measures air temperature and relative humidity. Unlike the station's other radiation shields, this one is naturally ventilated (i.e., no mechanical aspiration).
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