This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
1 min Read
A street performer around Bath Abbey.
In 2019, National Geographic Society (NGS) undertook an expedition to Everest which included ICIMOD among a number of partners. This expedition included work on the highest glacier in world, Khumbu glacier, where ice samples were collected and multiple scientific research projects were conducted. Significantly adding to data availability, the expedition also involved the installation of five automatic weather stations (AWS) on Everest, with the highest installed at “The Balcony” at 8430m and the “South Col” 7945m. The AWS on The Balcony is now officially the highest AWS in the world.
We contributed to the NGS comprehensive map of Asia’s vital rivers building on scientific work to develop the first ever Water Tower Index. This collaboration with NGS complemented ICIMOD’s long-term effort of drawing much-needed global attention to climate change impacts in the HKH. It has also resulted in a range of communication products which will help highlight the value and vulnerability of the region.
Multiple academic papers are expected be published based on the data and information from the expedition. The July issue of National Geographic Magazine and the National Geographic TV Channel have featured the expedition. In addition, footage and photographs from the expedition are also being used to create educational materials, where ICIMOD researchers Inka Koch and Tenzing Sherpa are featured explaining AWS networks and how mapping helps us understand glacier and other environmental change in the region.
Here are some links to what has come out of this partnership so far:
Mapping change at the roof of the world https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/mapping-change-roof-world/
Inside the Everest expedition that built the world’s highest weather station https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/2019/06/mount-everest-highest-weather-station/
Asia’s Vital Rivers https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/07/asias-vital-rivers-perpetual-feature/
The world’s supply of fresh water is in trouble as mountain ice vanishes https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/12/water-towers-high-mountains-are-in-trouble-perpetual/ (See also, Importance and vulnerability of the world’s water towers: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1822-y)
How alpine species are adapting to climate change https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/2020/06/perpetual-planet-nepal-alpine-species/
National Geographic Perpetual Planet https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/perpetual-planet/
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
In March 2015, the Cryosphere Initiative of ICIMOD and the Centre for Climate Change & Spatial Information (CCCSI) of Sherubtse ...
A post-2015 Disaster Risk Reduction Framework that aims to reduce ‘substantially’ the global disaster mortality and the number of people ...
Ground-based research results showed much lesser mass loss compared with that detected through remote sensing, with remarkably low uncertainty. The ...
Himalayan nettle is aptly named. The tough plant grows abundantly in most Himalayan forests above 1,500 masl. A hardy fibre ...
Women in the Hunza Valley planting sea buckthorn (Photo: Kanwal Waqar) Kathmandu, ...
Kailash sacred landscape covers more than 31,000 km2 geographical area and is spread across China, India, and Nepal. It exhibits ...
Since the winter of 1998-99, researchers have documented widespread fog that occurred over a 1,500 km distance in north-eastern Pakistan, ...
A joint research team from CICERO, GRID-Arendal, ICIMOD, and other partners within ...
