NASA Captures Stunning Images of Mount Fuji in Its First-Ever Snow-Free October in 130 Years
Mount Fuji in Japan at last received its first taste of snow in the year, but despite the welcome event, environmentalists remain worried. For the first time in 130 years, Mount Fuji had no trace of white on its ranges for the whole of October, Newsweek reported. The phenomenon concerned experts as it was yet another natural process being altered possibly due to climate change. The snowfall came a month later than usual arrival and disappeared just days later.
(Image Source: Getty Images/Photo by DoctorEgg)
According to ground and aerial photos snow appeared on Mount Fuji's slopes on November 6, SciTech Daily reported. The information was verified by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Snowfall typically came in this area around October 5. Researchers were worried because for over a century, the first snowfall had never been this late. Previously the record for the most late snowfall was held by 1955 and 2016, both of which experienced it on October 26.
The snow was welcomed by the community near Mount Fuji, BBC reported. Locals celebrated amongst themselves and also shared photos of the snow-clad mountains on social media.
OLI (Operational Land Imager) on the Landsat 8 captured images of Mount Fuji ranges on November 9, SciTech Daily reported. According to the photos published by NASA, the snow had already disappeared.
Experts claim that snow's late arrival comes after a period of exceptional heat in the country, SciTech Daily reported. The average summer temperature from June to August 2024 in Japan was 1.76 degrees Celsius. More than 70 Japanese cities experienced temperatures of 30°C (86°F) or higher. The heat allegedly even disrupted Mount Fuji's early-season precipitation. According to the available data, this was the country’s joint-hottest summer since 1898.
Japan's high temperature wasn't a solitary phenomenon, CNN reported. 2024 is on track to come out as the hottest year in recorded history with several countries having experienced their warmest summer to this date.
"Temperatures were high this summer, and these high temperatures continued into September, deterring cold air," Yutaka Katsuta, a forecaster at Japan's Kofu Local Meteorological Office shared, Newsweek reported. Though experts are not sure that global warming is the primary reason behind this unsettling phenomenon, worldwide trends direct toward the conclusion.
Mount Fuji is a popular tourist destination and has acquired the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage site, CNN reported. In recent years the mountain has been suffering from overexploitation. Authorities have introduced provisions like tourist tax to protect the ecosystem of these iconic ranges.