Full Breakdown
Vanishing Snow on Papua’s Highest Peaks
By Drooid · · How we work
Rapid Glacier Loss in the Sudirman Range
Glacier and permanent snow cover in Indonesia’s Sudirman Range have almost disappeared. Only tiny remnants remain on Puncak Jaya (also called Carstensz Pyramid), and scientists expect the last ice to vanish within the next year or two.
Historical Extent and Recent Decline
A century ago the 300 km (190-mile) stretch of the range supported snow and year-round ice on all four of its major peaks. In the 19th century the glaciers around these summits covered roughly 1,900 hectares (4,700 acres). Today, according to the BBC, that area has shrunk to about 16 hectares (40 acres). The reduction has occurred largely within a single human lifetime.
Quantitative Change
Cultural and Scientific Significance
The snow-capped peaks are regarded by many Papuans as a spiritual centre—described by local activists as a “Mecca or Vatican” of their belief system. For researchers, the glaciers have long provided valuable climate-history records, offering insights into past atmospheric conditions and regional climate change.
Outlook and Implications
The imminent loss of the last ice will end a centuries-old natural archive, limiting future scientific study of the region’s climate evolution. It also threatens a cultural landmark that holds deep meaning for indigenous communities. The rapid disappearance underscores the broader pattern of tropical glacier retreat linked to global warming, highlighting the urgency of climate monitoring in equatorial mountain environments.