Mount Everest has the distinction of being the highest observed mountain on the planet. Recently, a group of scientists have determined that this magnificent peak is still experiencing growth.
In this article we are going to tell you what geological and climate implications there are of the fact that Mount Everest keeps growing.
What are the characteristics of Mount Everest?
A recent study involving researchers from University College London (UCL) in the UK and the University of Geosciences in China has revealed that Mount Everest has increased in height by approximately between 15 and 50 metres over the last 90.000 years as a result of the influence of an ancient river located nearby.
Mount Everest is a peak located within the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. It serves as a natural boundary between Nepal and Tibet, which is an autonomous region of China. For many decades, this entity has been held in high regard by the surrounding residents, leading to a variety of names attributed to it, as noted in the Encyclopedia Britannica. The Nepalese call it Sagarmatha, meaning “the forehead of heaven,” while the Tibetans call it Chomolungma, meaning “the mother of the universe.”
Mount Everest keeps growing
Mount Everest, which rises to 8.849 metres above sea level, has the distinction of being the highest mountain on the planet. The authors of the recent study claim that Everest is “anomalously high for the mountain range” given that the other three highest peaks (K2, Kangchenjunga and Lhotse) They are separated by just approximately 120 meters. Instead, Everest exceeds the height of the next highest peak in the Himalayas by 250 metres.
Adam Smith, a researcher at University College London and author of the recent study, told Live Science: "This may indicate that something noteworthy is going on."
The findings compiled by Smith and his collaborators suggest that Mount Everest is experiencing annual growth of about 2 millimeters, a rate that exceeds the elevation increase projected for the mountain range. To investigate the reasons behind this accelerated growth, the research team set out to determine whether Himalayan rivers are influencing the phenomenon.
The reasons behind Everest's continued growth
In a study published Sept. 30 in the journal Nature Geoscience, researchers from University College London and the China University of Geosciences propose that the continued growth of the world's tallest mountain is attributed to erosion caused by a neighboring river network, which has been actively carving out a substantial gorge.
Today, the Arun River, located approximately 75 kilometers from Everest, has been integrated into the wider Kosi River system. Over the millennia, it has transported millions of tons of sediment, skillfully sculpting the gorge along its banks.
In the study, the research team used numerical models to replicate the development changes of the Kosi River, which flows through China, Nepal and India. They then compared it with existing topographic data.
The researchers concluded that the Kosi River system ultimately “captured” the Arun River, a phenomenon known as drainage piracy. This event led to further erosion of the river, resulting in the formation of the Arun Gorge.
As a result, the reduction in the land mass of the Arun River has raised Everest, resulting in an annual growth rate of 2 millimetres for the mountain. According to researchers, over the past 89.000 years, following the merger of the Arun and the Kosi, This famous peak has achieved a height increase ranging from 15 to 50 meters.
The Everest Anomaly
«Mount Everest is a remarkable mountain, rich in myths and legends, and it persists in its growth. According to our research, The deepening of the adjacent river system produces a loss of material, which contributes to the continued rise of the mountain,” Smith said in a statement.
Dr Jin-Gen Dai, a researcher at the China University of Geosciences and co-author of the study, said: “The Everest region has a fascinating river system. The Arun River flows eastwards at high altitude through a flat valley before making an abrupt turn southwards, becoming the Kosi River as it descends and becomes steeper. This particular topography, suggesting an unstable condition, is probably associated with Everest’s extreme height,” he said.
The researchers state that Everest's exceptional height within its mountain range can also be attributed to a phenomenon known as isostatic rebound.
When this phenomenon occurs, a portion of the Earth's crust that has experienced a loss of mass undergoes a flexing and subsequently appears to "float" upwards. This phenomenon occurs because the liquid mass exerts a pressure that overcomes the downward gravitational force following the loss of mass. Although this process develops gradually at a rate of only a few millimetres per year, it can cause a significant alteration of the Earth's surface after the passage of several geological periods.
Everest is not the only mountain to have experienced uplift. Neighbouring peaks such as Lhotse and Makalu have also been affected by the phenomenon.
The research team says isostatic rebound has the potential to raise the height of these peaks by an amount comparable to that of the world's tallest mountain. However, due to its proximity to the Arun River, Makalu would experience a more significant height increase.
Mount Everest and the surrounding mountains are experiencing growth due to isostatic rebound, which is elevating them at a rate that exceeds the rate of erosion. Using GPS instruments, it can be determined that This growth occurs at approximately two millimeters per year., and understanding of the underlying mechanisms has improved significantly.
The changes experienced by Everest exemplify the dynamic nature of the Earth's surface. Mount Everest's uplift is enhanced by the interaction between erosion by the Arun River and the upward pressure of the Earth's mantle, which propels it to a greater height than it would otherwise reach.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the reasons why Everest does not stop growing.