Mount Everest Is Growing Taller Every Year | The Tallest Mountain Has Gained An Extra 165 Feet In Elevation!

By Lakshan Wickrema
November 8, 2024
1:53 GMT-0830

Tibetans call it  Chomolungma while Nepalese Sagarmatha. However, we call it by the name of a British surveyor General in India, Mount Everest. The British “discovered” it in the 1840s. By 1865 Royal Geographical Society decided that it was the highest mountain peak in the world. Since then it has become a challenge. To conquer this height. However, a surprising discovery has recently made headlines. That is Mount Everest is growing taller each year. It has gained an additional 165 feet (50 meters) in elevation.

Historically, Mount Everest’s elevation was thought to remain constant. However, scientists have now confirmed that the mountain’s height is changing. New measurements, taken with new technology, reveal that Mount Everest’s peak has reached a new height of 29,031.7 feet (8,848.86 meters). Both the movement of tectonic plates and factors like earthquakes contribute to this elevation. It has happened for millions of years now. However, a recent study shows erosion due to the merger of rivers also played a part. Let us look at this fascinating aspect of the world’s tallest peak.

The Forces Behind Mount Everest is Growing

Mount Everest is situated at the convergence of two major tectonic plates—the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The forces exerted by these plates are the driving factors behind the mountain’s growth. The collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates began around 50 million years ago and continues today. As the Indian Plate moves northward at a rate of about 2 inches (5 centimeters) per year, it is slowly but surely forcing the land upward, pushing the Himalayas higher.

However, there is another reason for Mount Everest to surpass its peers. This cause may look counterintuitive. However, erosion is due to a merger of rivers located about 47 miles away from Everest. Rivers in steep mountains like the Himalayas remove vast amounts of rock from the range. While this process might seem to work against the mountain’s height, it has the opposite effect on the Earth’s crust. A study appearing in Nature magazine 2024 October researched this in detail.

“It’s a bit like throwing a load of cargo off a ship,” study co-author Adam Smith, a geoscientist at University College London, told BBC News. “The ship becomes lighter and so floats a little higher. Similarly, when the crust becomes lighter… it can float a little higher,” on top of the planet’s mantle.

“It’s a bit like throwing a load of cargo off a ship. The ship becomes lighter and so floats a little higher. Similarly, when the crust becomes lighter… it can float a little higher,” on top of the planet’s mantle ”

Adam Smith, Geoscientist

The effect, which scientists call isostatic rebound, appears to be so great for Mount Everest. Because of an ancient case of fluvial “theft.” Using computer models, the researchers found that the nearby Arun River was captured by the flow of another river network, the Kosi, about 89,000 years ago. The high erosion of the combined rivers supercharged Everest’s growth, adding around two millimeters of additional height each year, for a cumulative total of 50 to 165 extra feet.

How Everest’s Growth is Measured

For centuries, measuring the exact height of Mount Everest has been a significant challenge. Early attempts to determine Everest’s height involved traditional methods of triangulation, where surveyors measured angles from known points to estimate the mountain’s height. However, these measurements were not entirely accurate due to the mountainous terrain and limitations in surveying technology.

Image Source: Conde Nast

In recent years, advancements in technology have drastically improved the accuracy of these measurements. Modern tools, including GPS technology, laser scanning, and radar systems, have been used to make precise measurements of Everest’s height. These methods are much more reliable and can account for variations in the mountain’s surface, such as shifts caused by tectonic activity, earthquakes, or changes in snow and ice coverage.

In 2020, a joint team of Chinese and Nepali scientists used high-tech equipment, including satellite-based GPS measurements, to remeasure Everest’s height. Their results confirmed an increase of 165 feet (50 meters) from the previous height of 29,028 feet (8,848 meters). This new measurement was conducted after years of preparation, including extensive fieldwork and the use of high-resolution data.

The ability to measure Everest’s height with such precision has allowed scientists to track the mountain’s growth and fluctuations over time, offering a deeper understanding of the dynamic nature of the Earth’s surface.

Mount Everest is Growing due to Earthquakes as well

Earthquakes also play a key role in shaping Mount Everest’s height. The region around Everest is prone to seismic activity due to the immense tectonic pressure between the Indian and Eurasian plates. These earthquakes can cause sudden shifts in the landscape, altering the mountain’s height, slope, and overall structure.

Image Source: Explorer’s Passage

In 2015, a massive earthquake struck Nepal, causing widespread devastation. Although it resulted in a temporary drop in Everest’s height due to the displacement of rocks and debris, subsequent measurements revealed that Everest’s overall elevation was again on the rise. The earthquake’s aftermath demonstrated just how dynamic the region is. The event also highlighted the importance of ongoing monitoring and measurements to track changes in the mountain’s height in real time.

While earthquakes can have short-term impacts on Everest’s elevation, the overall trend remains upward, thanks to the continued tectonic collision beneath the surface. These natural events are part of the larger geological cycle that continually reshapes the Himalayas.

Source: First Post

How Long Will Everest Continue to Grow?

A common question is how long Mount Everest will continue to grow. Geologists estimate that the ongoing tectonic collision will continue for millions of years, meaning that Everest will keep rising as long as the Indian Plate continues to push into the Eurasian Plate. However, over time, the rate of growth may slow down as the plates move closer together.

Eventually, the two plates may reach a point where they can no longer exert the same level of pressure on each other, which could cause the mountain’s growth to plateau. However, this process could take tens of millions of years, and even after that, Everest may remain the tallest mountain on Earth for a long time.

How Mount Everest is Growing Effect

Mount Everest’s growth has several implications, particularly for the surrounding environment and human activity. As the mountain rises, it can influence local weather patterns. The increasingly towering height can disrupt atmospheric currents, leading to changes in precipitation and temperature in the region. These changes can, in turn, affect the flora and fauna that inhabit the surrounding areas.

For mountaineers, the continuing rise of Everest presents new challenges. As the mountain’s elevation increases, the air pressure at the summit decreases, making it more difficult for climbers to breathe. Mountaineers already face significant obstacles in their attempts to summit Everest, including extreme cold, altitude sickness, and unpredictable weather. The ongoing rise in elevation may only exacerbate these challenges, requiring even more preparation and acclimatization for future expeditions.

Additionally, Everest’s growth is a reminder of the constantly evolving nature of Earth’s surface. The collision between tectonic plates is responsible for much of the planet’s seismic and volcanic activity, and studying Everest’s growth helps scientists better understand these large-scale processes.

Conclusion

Mount Everest’s growth is an extraordinary example of the Earth’s ever-changing surface. The mountain’s continued rise, driven by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, demonstrates the immense power of tectonic forces. As scientists continue to refine their measurement techniques, they will be able to monitor Everest’s height more accurately and track its growth over time.

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