Research on a 2012 wildfire in Africa’s Rwenzori Mountains found it was the first major fire in 12,000 years in an ecosystem previously too cold and wet to burn. Scientists warn that climate change may be making similar high-altitude ecosystems worldwide more vulnerable to fire.
- The 2012 wildfire in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains was unprecedented in 12,000 years of geological history according to lake sediment analysis.
- The fire consumed 16 square miles of vegetation above 13,000 feet elevation in an ecosystem previously protected by cold, wet conditions.
- Similar fires have occurred on other African peaks like Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, suggesting climate change is affecting high-altitude ecosystems globally.
- Scientists found charcoal levels 100 times higher than previous millennia in recent sediment layers from alpine lakes.
- Researchers warn these unique ‘sky island’ ecosystems could be permanently transformed if fires become frequent due to warming temperatures.
Source: Discovermagazine
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