Mount Everest is surprisingly growing taller and faster than expected
A recent research that was published in the journal Nature Geoscience claims that Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the world at 8.85 kilometers above sea level, is still rising in height.
Because of the collision of the indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, the himalayas have been rising for almost 50 million years; nevertheless, scientists have found that Everest is expanding much more quickly than predicted.
The study, headed by geoscientist Jin-Gen Dai of Beijing's china university of Geosciences, finds that Everest's rapid rise has been facilitated by a major alteration in the local river system.
Because of the collision of the indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, the himalayas have been rising for almost 50 million years; nevertheless, scientists have found that Everest is expanding much more quickly than predicted.
The study, headed by geoscientist Jin-Gen Dai of Beijing's china university of Geosciences, finds that Everest's rapid rise has been facilitated by a major alteration in the local river system.
The Kosi and Arun rivers combined around 89,000 years ago, increasing Everest's estimated height by 49–164 feet (15–50 meters). Isostatic rebound is the name given to the geological mechanism responsible for this phenomena.
The weight on the Earth's crust lessened as a result of the merging rivers' accelerated erosion and huge removal of rock and dirt. As a result, the ground underneath started to rise, much like a boat rising in water once its burden is released.
The weight on the Earth's crust lessened as a result of the merging rivers' accelerated erosion and huge removal of rock and dirt. As a result, the ground underneath started to rise, much like a boat rising in water once its burden is released.
According to the study, isostatic rebound contributes around 10% of the yearly uplift rate of Everest, or 0.01-0.02 inches (0.2-0.5 millimeters) annually. This uplift is greater than the surdata-face erosion that is continuously occurring due to elements like wind, rain, and river movement.
Remarkably, this mechanism is also causing nearby summits like Makalu and Lhotse to develop similarly. Compared to Everest, Makalu has a somewhat higher uplift rate since it is located closer to the Arun River.
GPS readings, according to Adam Smith, a doctorate candidate at university College london and co-author of the study, verify Everest's and the surrounding Himalayas' continuous ascent4. The uplift rate from isostatic rebound might possibly rise as long as erosion continues.
Remarkably, this mechanism is also causing nearby summits like Makalu and Lhotse to develop similarly. Compared to Everest, Makalu has a somewhat higher uplift rate since it is located closer to the Arun River.
GPS readings, according to Adam Smith, a doctorate candidate at university College london and co-author of the study, verify Everest's and the surrounding Himalayas' continuous ascent4. The uplift rate from isostatic rebound might possibly rise as long as erosion continues.
This study emphadata-sizes how dynamic our world is and shows how continuing geological processes may affect even seemingly unchangeable monuments like Mount Everest. It acts as a reminder that the Earth is ever-changing, frequently in ways that are invisible to us in the day-to-day grind.