According to new research, Mount Everest is taller by 15-50 meters compared to previous measurements and continues to rise each year due to an unexpected reason.
Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, known as the “roof of the world”, is growing taller each year. In 2020, its height was adjusted upward by nearly 1 meter, reaching 8,848.86 meters.
Previously, its growth in height was attributed to the movement of tectonic plates; however, this theory does not explain why Everest is unusually taller than other peaks in the Himalayas. It stands over 250 meters higher than the second-highest peak here, K2.
“Roof of the world” Everest is rising each year – (Photo: scitechdaily.com).
Currently, researchers from University College London (UCL) have discovered that erosion from a river network about 75 kilometers away from Everest may contribute to “pushing” Everest higher.
This erosion is creating a seemingly paradoxical phenomenon known as uplift, which occurs when a section of the Earth’s crust loses mass and then “floats” upward due to strong pressure from the molten layer beneath.
This process does not happen rapidly. Scientists estimate that Everest has grown taller by 15 to 50 meters over the past 89,000 years. However, it can still be measured using modern technology, according to research published on September 30 in the journal Nature Geoscience.
“We can see Everest rising about 2mm each year using GPS devices, and now we have a better understanding of the forces driving this process”, said Matthew Fox, a co-author of the study.
The figure of 2mm may sound small, but in geological timeframes, it can make a significant difference.
In the case of Everest, this process appears to have accelerated over the last 89,000 years since the nearby Arun River merged with the adjacent Kosi River.
Scientists explain that the confluence of these two rivers has increased the water flow through the Kosi River, accelerating the erosion process. As more soil is washed away, it gradually triggers the uplift rate of Everest, pushing the mountain peak even higher.
“Our research shows that when the nearby river system deepens, it causes the mountain to rise higher”, noted co-author Adam Smith.
Scientists indicate that this phenomenon is also affecting the nearby peaks Lhotse and Makalu, which are the fourth and fifth highest mountains in the world.
Some geologists not involved in the study suggest that this theory could be valid but that there are still many uncertainties within the research. Nevertheless, this study has “provided an intriguing insight”, according to Professor Hugh Sinclair from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Edinburgh.
