The depth of the snow on the summit of Everest has always been of interest. Previous studies have been inconsistent and uncertain about the depth of snow in the world’s most remote and highest places. A recent scientific study has solved this dilemma. Measurements made by Chinese scientists on the northern slopes of Mount Everest have shown that there is 9 and a half meters of snow on the summit of Mount Everest. Previously, measurements over the past five decades had estimated this depth to be 0.9 to 3.5 meters.
In 1975, measurements made by a Chinese climbing team using wooden pointed sticks (uden-stakes) showed that the snow depth was 0.92 meters. Similarly, in 1992, a joint team of Italy and China measured the depth of the snow by inserting a steel stake into the snow and showed that the depth of the snow was 2.52 meters. But due to the density of snow, the length of the stick and personal reasons in bad weather, it was difficult to measure the height.
In 2005, the depth was found to be 3.5 meters in Sardar, as measured by the Chinese mountaineering and surveying team using radio echo sounding technology. According to the researchers, although the Nepalese and Chinese teams measured the snow depth with the help of radar equipment in 2019 and 2020, the results were not made public. Last year (2022) in April and May, this measurement based on ground-penetrating radar technology (GPR) showed that there is more snow on the summit of Mount Everest than previously thought.
Recent studies have shown that even the height of Mount Everest may change. As part of this study, scientists from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences measured at 26 different points to find out the difference between the rock surface and the snow depth at an altitude of more than 7,000 meters. These measurements show that the depth of snow in Sardar is 9.5 meters. They estimate that the result could be over 1.2 meters.
Problems with previous studies were due to snow density, distance between measurement points and highest elevations. The reliability of the study is confirmed by the consistency observed during depth detection at different measurement points with the help of radar. It has also revealed new facts about the level of Everest,’ the scientist said in the study report. Scientists have been interested in the effects of human-caused climate change, especially on the snow and glaciers in the highest areas of the earth.
What do Nepalese scientists say?
A Nepali scientist who did not participate in the study has given a response that the scientific significance of the study results is very high and there is widespread interest in the results of the study all over the world. Professor of energy, environment and climate change at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, Dr. Shobhakar Dhakal says. He adds this result will help to understand the effect of climate change on the snow of Mount Everest. More measurements and comparative studies are needed in the future to understand these types of effects.