Weather or not—Global climate databases: Reliable on tropical mountains?

mountains in south-eastern Kenya and eastern Tanzania: two peaks are part of the North Pare (2200 m), three peaks belong to the South Pare (2450 m). The other seven peaks of the Eastern Arc are on West Usambara (2200 m), East Usambara (1400 m) and Nguru (2400 m). The other two mountains are huge volcanoes: Meru, at around 4600m the second highest moun- tain in Tanzania, and Kilimanjaro at 5900 the highest mountain in Africa (Figs 1 and 2, S1 Table). Along its huge elevational gradient, Kilimanjaro covers several important natural ecosys- tems of tropical Africa, from lowland savannah to montane forest belts and alpine ecosystems (Fig 2). The natural habitats below 1800 m are greatly reduced due to agriculture and fodder production, and these areas are more or less densely populated [15]. For a detailed description of the most important vegetation habitats at Kilimanjaro, see [16,17]. The situation on Meru is similar, while the other mountains do not reach into the alpine climate zone. Only the highest peaks of the Eastern Arc Mountains are still covered by montane forest remnants, while the Fig 2. The studied Tanzanian mountain ranges. (A) Meru. (B) North Pare with Kindoroko in the background. (C) Kilimanajaro. (D) Vumari in South Pare. (E) South Pare with Shengena in the background. (F) Mwala in South Pare. (G) Nilo ind east Usambara. (H) Nguru. (I) West Usambara. (J) Makunguru in Nguru. (K) Kanga in Nguru. Whereas Kilimanjaro and Meru reach into the alpine zones, only the highest peaks of the other mountains are covered by remnants of montane (cloud) forest.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299363.g002 PLOS ONE Global climate datasets on tropical mountains PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299363 March 13, 2024 4 / 12