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Klappentext Tropical glaciers are both highly sensitive indicators of global climate and fresh water reservoirs in some fast developing regions. This book gives a theoretical and practical analysis of tropical glaciology including a useful definition of tropical glacier-climate regimes and the analysis of the main glaciological key variables. The Rwenzori and the Cordillera Blanca are investigated as examples of tropical glacierized mountains. The fluctuations of their glaciers since the end of the Little Ice Age are reconstructed and the probable climatic reasons are discussed. The evidence of great expansions of mountain glaciers throughout the tropics on several occasions during the Quaternary are summarised, examined and then applied and contrasted. The accompanying map of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park at a scale of 1:100,000 shows the spectacular retreat of the glaciers during the last century, and their extensions over half the area of the Park in the last 300,000 years. Zusammenfassung Tropical glaciers are highly sensitive indicators of global climate but are also fresh water reservoirs in some fast developing regions. In some cases they are a permanent threat to people. This book starts with the dramatic story of a glacial lake and continues with an analysis of tropical glaciology. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of figureas and tables; Preface; Sub-preface; Prologue: the story of a glacial lake; Part I. The Nature of Tropical Glaciers: 1. A brief introduction on the matter; 2. The delimitation of the tropics; 3. The distribution of glaciers in the tropics; 4. Working hypotheses; 5. Glaciological key variables: tropics and mid-latitudes in comparison: Part II. Modern Glacier Fluctuations in Tropical High Mountains: 6. Modern glacier fluctuations on the Rwenzori; 7. Modern glacier fluctuations in the Cordillera Blanca; 8. Modern glacier fluctuations in the tropics and their possible causes; Part III. Former Quaternary Tropical Glaciers: 9. The nature, extents and climates of former Quaternary tropical glaciers, with special reference to the East African mountains; Prospect; References; Index....
