Papua's 'Eternal Snow' Is Vanishing as Climate Change Reshapes Tropical Peaks

The snow that has long covered peaks in Papua is on track to disappear entirely as climate change reshapes the region's mountain landscape, according to the BBC.

The snow, sometimes referred to as “eternal snow,” holds both scientific and spiritual significance for communities in the area, the report said. Researchers have used the glaciers atop these tropical peaks to study long-term climate patterns, given their unusual presence so close to the equator.

The BBC's report did not provide a specific timeline for when the snow is expected to vanish completely, though it described the trend as being driven by broader climate change affecting the region. Tropical glaciers, found in only a handful of locations worldwide, are considered particularly sensitive indicators of rising global temperatures because of their marginal existence in warm climates.

The report did not detail what conservation or research efforts, if any, are under way in response to the melting.