The last glaciers of Indonesia

September 6, 2023

New imagery on Soar of some of the world’s last remaining tropical glaciers have provided a sobering wake up call about the impacts of climate change and spell doom for these natural treasures.

We know that today, climate change is affecting every corner of the world. Glaciers are an important indicator of climate change because they are sensitive to even the slightest changes in temperature, providing visible evidence of climate shifts through shrinking or receding.

Our Soar geospatial expert, Sergio Volkmer and CEO Amir Farhand (educated originally as a geomorphologist and former climatology teacher) analysed these glaciers in the Indonesian province of Papua as a climate indicator. They created maps and imagery documenting the history of these glaciers which sadly paint an alarming picture of the situation today.
The History
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At over 4,000m above sea level, on the slopes of Puncak Jaya in the Sudirman Range in eastern Indonesia, you’ll find the fragile remains of Asia’s last tropical glaciers. They are a marvel of nature, situated in an equatorial region at only 4 degrees latitude south; a region typically characterised by lush tropical rainforests with a near-constant average temperature of 28°C at sea level. But the sheer altitude of the peak keeps the temperatures cold enough at the top to not only allow for snowfall to occur - but glaciers to exist and grow. At least, until now.
Prior to the industrial age in the 1800s, these mountain slopes were permanently covered in snow and ice, creating the glaciers. Regular snowfall maintained a stable equilibrium of gain and loss of snow across the highest peaks of Puncak Jaya seasonally. In the 1850s, the boundaries between the snow-covered and snow-free areas, called the snowlines, were registered and have been observed ever since, allowing earth scientists to have an incredible data log of one of the most unique glacial systems in the world.
Since then, the observations have revealed an intense receding of these glaciers. Satellite imagery of the area over time shows basal melting (melting of the glaciers from the bottom), and, consequently, the snowlines shrinking. Some scientists predict the entire glacier could be completely gone within the next few years.
Where did all the glaciers go?

Experts believe that rising air temperatures are the main culprit for the glacier rapidly melting away. In a tropical region such as Indonesia, the temperature at the mountain peaks is only just cold enough to maintain snow; so even a rise in temperature of just 1°C can decimate the glaciers. Other factors which may be impacting the region include the reduction of cloud cover over the mountains, a decrease in humidity levels, and interrupted rainfall patterns.
Our team used various topographic maps and satellite imagery to estimate the snowlines at various time intervals between 1850 and 2021. You can see in the map below how the snowlines have receded over time.
A series of satellite images were also uploaded to Soar, supporting the hypothesis that the snowlines are retreating, as well as confirming the disappearance of previously snow-covered areas, which were not glaciers, but equally important due to the microclimate support they gave. The full list of maps with their links to Soar are below:

21st June 1997

26th July 2004

13th October 2015

30th September 2022

9th March 2023

Animated sequence of snow area receding on Puncak Jaya’s glaciers using various data sources ranging from implied cartographic surveys, aerial imagery through to satellite imagery. Note the construction of the Grasberg copper mine in 1972 to the west of the image.

The situation at hand

The team used this imagery to calculate the glacial loss between dates and found the percentage of loss has been accelerating over time. Since 2015, after losing more than 99% of all its ice as registered in 1850, which then covered an area of about 9x3km, the Puncak Jaya Glacier remains now have been restricted to only four separated small ice patches of about 200x200m each. At this rate, it’s plausible that these glaciers will be effectively melted away within the next few years at best.

While it would be devastating to lose them, the question now is whether the damage done is irreversible. The accelerating rate of disappearance seen in maps and satellite images doesn’t bode well for these natural wonders.

If these glaciers do disappear, it would not only have an impact on the natural equilibrium of climatic patterns in the region, but also take away from the world one of the most unique tropical montane systems. By sharing this data and imagery far and wide, and attracting the attention of scientists and community members, we hope we can see a change for the better.
This blog was written by:

Sergio Volkmer

Sérgio is a mapping and remote sensing enthusiast, producing content for Soar. He studied geology and holds a Master of Philosophy, and is now an architect and contributor to OpenStreetMap and OpenData communities. He believes that information and knowledge are first steps towards personal fulfilment that lead to a better world.

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