New Study: Mount Everest Continues to Rise Every Year

Arab Weather - A recent study has shown that Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth, is constantly growing and rising by about 15 to 50 meters above what it was before. This rise is due to the erosion process caused by a nearby eroded river valley, and the mountain continues to grow as a result.

The effect of erosion on the height of Everest

The study, published Sept. 30 in the journal Nature Geoscience, found that erosion from a river system about 75 kilometers (45 miles) from Mount Everest has carved a large valley, and that erosion is causing the surrounding area to lose land mass, causing the mountain to rise by about two millimeters per year.

According to the study, the eroding river valley is pulling rocks and sediments away from the Everest area, pushing the mountain higher. Over the past 89,000 years, the mountain is believed to have grown by about 50 metres (165 feet) to its current height of more than 8,849 metres (29,000 feet).

Mountain of Legends and its contribution to geological studies

“Mount Everest remains an inspiration and a legend surrounded by many myths,” said Adam Smith, a co-author of the study and a doctoral researcher at University College London. The mountain is still growing, with the ongoing erosion of the surrounding river system causing it to rise steadily.

Smith added in his statements that this growth is linked to a geological process called "post-glacial rebound," which results from pressure accumulating under the Earth's crust that pushes the mountain upward after rocks and soil are removed by the river.

Post-glacial rebound: The scientific explanation for Everest's rise

Postglacial rebound is a geological phenomenon that occurs when the Earth's surface gradually rises back up after being compressed under the weight of heavy ice sheets during the last ice age. Smith describes the process as like squeezing a soft mattress and letting it gradually return to its original shape.
The research team used erosion data to create numerical models that simulate the evolution of the Kosi and Arun river networks, located east of Mount Everest. Over thousands of years, the Arun has carved a vast gorge, carrying away vast amounts of sediment and soil. These rivers contribute to the power of erosion and push mountains upward.

According to Smith, the unique river system in the Everest region, where the Arun River flows at high altitude before abruptly descending as the Kosi River, indicates an unstable topography that promotes mountain height.

The effect of river piracy on geological elevation

The researchers suggest that river piracy, a geological process in which powerful rivers take over weaker rivers and force them to change course, was the reason for the increased water flow through the Kosi. This increased flow contributed to the river’s erosive power, which removed more soil and sediment and pushed the surrounding mountains up at a faster rate.

The study suggests that Mount Everest and its neighboring peaks are growing faster than they used to due to ongoing erosion and the complex river system that surrounds them. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing geological processes in shaping natural landscapes over time, and make Mount Everest not only a symbol of mythology but also a focal point for advanced scientific study.

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