A Perspective of the Cumulative Risks from Climate Change on Mt. Everest: Findings from the 2019 Expedition

Kimberley R Miner; Paul Andrew Mayewski; Mary Hubbard; Kenny Broad; Heather Clifford; Imogen Napper; Ananta Gajurel; Corey Jaskolski; Wei Li; Mariusz Potocki; John Priscu

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041928

A Perspective of the Cumulative Risks from Climate Change on Mt. Everest: Findings from the 2019 Expedition

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 17;18(4):1928. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041928.

Authors

Kimberley R Miner¹, Paul Andrew Mayewski¹, Mary Hubbard², Kenny Broad^{3

4

5}, Heather Clifford^{1

6}, Imogen Napper^{3

7}, Ananta Gajurel³, Corey Jaskolski^{4

5}, Wei Li⁸, Mariusz Potocki^{1

5}, John Priscu⁸

Affiliations

¹ Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04463, USA.
² Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.
³ National Geographic Society, Washington, DC 02917, USA.
⁴ Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
⁵ Virtual Wonders, LLC, Wisconsin, Delafield, WI 53018, USA.
⁶ School of Earth and Climate Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04463, USA.
⁷ International Marine Litter Research Unit, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
⁸ Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA.

Abstract

In 2019, the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest expedition successfully retrieved the greatest diversity of scientific data ever from the mountain. The confluence of geologic, hydrologic, chemical and microbial hazards emergent as climate change increases glacier melt is significant. We review the findings of increased opportunity for landslides, water pollution, human waste contamination and earthquake events. Further monitoring and policy are needed to ensure the safety of residents, future climbers, and trekkers in the Mt. Everest watershed.

Keywords: Mt. Everest; climate change; pollution; risk.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Altitude
Climate Change
Expeditions*
Humans
Ice Cover
Mountaineering*