Glaciology: Mass Balance of Very Small Glaciers on Mount Kenya During 2016–2018

Abstract

In 1929, 17 glaciers were identified on Mount Kenya. Later, the glacier inventory of 2004 reported the presence of only 10 glaciers, which were reduced to only 9 in 2016 as documented in the revised glacier inventory published in 2018. In this study, we confirm the existence of eight glaciers by comparing changes in the surface elevation of digital surface models (DSMs). The models are created based on Pleiades satellite images from February 17, 2016 and on digital images acquired from a Cessna aircraft on August 19, 2018. Although the revised glacier inventory of 2016 included Northey Glacier, we are not able to confirm any change in the surface elevation of this glacier. Therefore, it is likely that Northey Glacier could represent a seasonal snow patch without an ice body. The comparison between the DSMs of 2016 and 2018 shows that the surface area of all eight glaciers had declined, indicating a negative mass balance. The average annual mass balance of the six glaciers is found to be −1.4 m w.e./a. The significantly smaller Darwin (0.0039 km²), Heim (0.0025 km²), and Diamond (0.00034 km²) glaciers might represent disappearing glaciers with stagnant ice, which have transitioned from active glaciers.