National Geographic just released two special programs about exploration and scientific discoveries on Mount Everest. Lost on Everest attempts to solve the mystery of what happened during the first mission on the mountain during George Mallory's expedition in 1924 while Expedition Everest reveals recent scientific progress and evidence of climate change.
Expedition Everest is comprised of an international team of scientists, climbers, and local Sherpa guides in the National Geographic and Rolex for The Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition. Lead expedition climber Pete Athans shared that the expedition is beyond a regular climb, but with scientific objections focusing on climate change.
Their goal is to transform Mount Everest into a climate laboratory. In the second quarter of last year, a team of over 30 biologists, glaciologists, geologists, meteorologists, and geographers conducted fieldwork on the mountain and in Khumbu Valley. Paul Mayewski from the University of Maine said, 'We believe the best way to do science on Everest isn't just to do one kind of science but do many kinds of science.'
The World's Water Towers
The various studies of the different fields all contributed a unique angle of the mountain's climate and the potential of glaciers serving as a source of water downstream to villages. One study analyzed mountains as the world's water towers and their high sensitivity to climate change.
More importantly, they noted that under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, mountains play a crucial role in providing water, food, and energy. The team explained three essential recommendations to protect Mount Everest and other mountains like it.
The first is that 'mountain regions must be recognized as a global asset of the Earth system.' Next is the acknowledge that nature's water towers are vulnerable to climate change as well as socio-economic factors.
Lastly, international; 'mountain-specific conservation and climate-change adaptation policies' should be developed. This is to protect the mountain ecosystems while simultaneously securing water, food, and energy for billions of mountain people.
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Glacial Melt
During their expedition, the team used drones with laser scanners and cameras to capture complete footage of Mount Everest. With this data, they can develop a 360-degree map to track how climate change causes the glacial melt to alter the landscape.
The Himalayas provide water for about 25% of the world's population. Their water supply is threatened as glacial melt has doubled since 2000 and continues to increase. An immediate threat is the risk of flash floods which the team cannot easily predict due to lack of data at high altitudes.
As a result, they aim to install automated weather stations at five locations. They will keep track of 'temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed, and other factors that help alert meteorologists to an impending flood.'
Expedition Everest interprets how Mount Everest and the Himalayas give insight on how climate change will affect mountainous regions and other places. Climate Scientist Anton Seimon shared, 'We're getting a window into what the rest of the world is starting to experience - and likely to experience in growing proportions.'
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