OBSERVATIONS ON SPEKE GLACIER, RUWENZORI RANGE, UGANDA

Speke Glacier, the best studied and largest single glacier in the Ruwenzori Range (Uganda, East Africa), was revisited in January 1990. A comparison of its present state with former observations reveals that its terminus receded 35-45 m between 1958 and 1977; since 1977 it has retreated more than 150 m. Nearly half the width of the snout has been lost, mainly on its western side, and the entire western section of the south-facing glacier has shrunk substantially. The observed fluctuation conforms with changes occurring on other tropical glaciers. Explanations concerning the reasons for the glacier recession are presented.