Scaling Everest for Science
At 8,800 meters above sea level, where oxygen is scarce and winds exceed 100 km/h, scientist Xu Baiqing led a daring mission to extract ice cores from Mt. Qomolangma. As head of China’s Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition, Xu’s team retrieved glacial samples containing atmospheric data spanning 15,000 years—a frozen archive of Earth’s climate history.
The cores, analyzed through advanced spectrometry, have already identified industrial pollutant traces from the 19th century and shifting precipitation patterns. “Each layer is a time capsule,” Xu explains. “We’re decoding how human activity accelerates environmental change—critical for predicting future scenarios.”
Decades of High-Altitude Research
Xu’s 23-year career spans glaciers from the Himalayas to the Andes. The recent expedition faced unprecedented challenges, including real-time core preservation at -30°C. Preliminary findings suggest Himalayan ice loss has doubled since 2000 compared to late 20th-century rates.
While over 6,000 climbers have summited Everest since 1953, Xu emphasizes scientific exploration requires deeper engagement: “Reaching the peak isn’t the finish line—it’s where discovery begins.” Collaborations with researchers from 12 countries aim to create the first pan-Asian glacier database by 2025.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
