Going...Going...Gone? Earth's Disappearing Tropical Glaciers

Robert Leffler
NOAA

 

Tropical glaciers are one of the most sensitive barometers for climate change. The rapid retreat of Earth's tropical glaciers is examined through a summary of existing literature. The significance of the melting is addressed. The presentation examines Earth's four tropical regions harboring glaciers and trends in glacial ice with the aid of recent and historical photography. The presentation explores the causes for the widespread meltdown and the future of the world's tropical glaciers under greenhouse warming scenarios are considered.   About Robert Leffler Bob has 30 years of professional service in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He has held the positions of geodesist, oceanographer, climatologist, and scientist. His current position is the National Weather Service focal point for stewardship of the climate data record. National Weather Service Headquarters is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. He has published over 50 articles on the subjects of climate and weather. He has been an invited guest speaker for the National Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council, White House staff, and numerous universities and colleges. His greatest interest lies in mountain climatology. He received his Bachelor's of Science degree from the University of Maryland's Geography Department in 1973. Bob was born in Lima, Peru in the shadows of the world's loftiest tropical mountains (the Andes). He has resided in the Washington, D.C. area for 46 years.