Papua’s Tropical Glaciers Face Complete Disappearance

Tropical glaciers in the mountains of Papua, Indonesia, are expected to melt away completely within the next one to two years due to rising global temperatures. Located just 450 kilometres (280 miles) south of the equator, the disappearing ice fields represent the final remaining tropical glaciers between the Andes and the Himalayas. Their loss will eliminate both a vital scientific archive of Earth’s historical climate and a sacred landmark central to local Indigenous traditions.

A century ago, the 300-kilometre (190-mile) Sudirman Range maintained permanent ice across four major peaks on the world’s second-largest island. Today, only small patches of snow remain surrounding Puncak Jaya, also known as Carstensz Pyramid. Historical records indicate that glacier coverage near the peak has contracted from roughly 1,900 hectares (4,700 acres) in the 19th century to approximately 16 hectares (40 acres) today, with nearly entire glaciers disappearing within a single human lifetime.

Rapid Retreat and Scientific Mapping

Recent survey work highlights the speed of the retreat. Danish researcher Klaus Thymann and his team conducted drone surveys and three-dimensional mapping to evaluate the remaining ice fields. According to Thymann, the glaciated area shrank by 95 percent between the early 2000s and 2025. Thymann stated that “there’s almost no ice left” as he documented the vanishing landform.

The ice fields near Puncak Jaya are isolated by thousands of kilometres from other glacier networks. In March, Czech glacier ecologist Marie Šabacká traveled to the peak to collect samples before the ice vanishes entirely. She explained that ice cores extracted from Puncak Jaya contain crucial data regarding regional atmospheric conditions and historical temperature shifts in the tropical Pacific and Western Pacific Warm Pool, which contain some of the ocean’s warmest waters. Scientists express concern that this historical record is disappearing before it can be fully analyzed.

Climate Drivers and Environmental Factors

Researchers attribute the retreat of Papua’s tropical ice to global climate warming caused by human activities, including the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. As atmospheric temperatures rise, the freezing point moves higher up the mountain slopes. As a result, precipitation increasingly falls as rain rather than snow, preventing glacier replenishment even in high-altitude zones that historically experienced regular snowfall.

Because permanent ice near the equator can survive only within narrow climatic thresholds at very high elevations, slight shifts in temperature or precipitation patterns dictate whether glaciers persist. Periodic El Niño weather events further accelerate ice loss, while localized factors such as cloud cover, topography, and seasonal precipitation influence the rate of melting.

Cultural Significance and Local Impact

The impending loss of the ice impacts at least five Indigenous groups who maintain deep cultural and spiritual connections to Puncak Jaya. For the Moni people, who call the mountain Mbainggela, the peak represents a sacred site where ancestors watch over the community. The Amungme people refer to the mountain range as Nemangkawi, or the “White Arrow,” viewing it as a symbol of honesty, moral integrity, and purity.

Amungme resident Elfrida Natkime shared that previous generations prayed for children to hold moral fortitude symbolised by the White Arrow. Environmental activist Adolfina Kum compared the melting of Nemangkawi to the potential destruction of holy sites such as Mecca for Muslims or the Vatican for Catholics, warning that local cultural foundations risk being shattered as the ice disappears.

Industrial Mining and Landscape Transformation

Indigenous Papuans view the melting glaciers alongside broader transformations of their native landscape. During the 20th century, the discovery of massive gold and copper deposits led to extensive industrial extraction. Mountain faces were excavated, while valleys were redeveloped with roads, industrial facilities, and new settlements.

The region hosts the Grasberg mine, operated by Freeport, which stands among the world’s largest gold and copper operations. While mining projects created jobs, infrastructure, and educational opportunities, local communities also experienced environmental degradation, loss of ancestral territory, and decades of social conflict. Natkime noted that while industrial development provided livelihoods for many, observing the altered mountains brings feelings of sadness alongside awe.

Background

Tropical glaciers are rare natural features that exist high above sea level near the equator, where atmospheric conditions allow ice to persist year-round. Beyond Papua, tropical glaciers are found primarily in the South American Andes and on high peaks in East Africa, such as Mount Kilimanjaro. Because tropical glaciers exist on the boundary of freezing conditions, scientists consider them among the most sensitive indicators of global temperature changes and atmospheric shifts.