Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth at 8.85 km above sea level, is rising faster than previously believed, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience. For 50 million years, the Himalayas have been growing due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. However, the new research suggests that Everest’s uplift has accelerated.
Geoscientist Jin-Gen Dai from the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, who led the study, credits this phenomenon to changes in the local river system. Roughly 89,000 years ago, the Kosi river merged with the Arun river, intensifying erosion and lightening the Earth’s crust in the region.
This process, called isostatic rebound, has contributed to Everest’s elevation increase by 49 to 164 feet (15 to 50 meters). Isostatic rebound occurs when the Earth’s crust, freed from the weight of eroded material, rises. This process is responsible for about 10% of Everest’s annual uplift rate, which amounts to 0.01-0.02 inches (0.2-0.5 millimeters) per year—faster than the erosion from natural elements like wind and water.
The study also reveals that nearby peaks, such as Lhotse and Makalu, are experiencing similar growth, with Makalu, closer to the Arun river, rising at an even faster pace than Everest. Co-author Adam Smith from University College London confirmed through GPS data that Everest’s growth is ongoing, and it may accelerate as erosion continues.
This research underscores the dynamic and evolving nature of the Earth, highlighting how even landmark geographical features like Mount Everest are subject to change.
