Chinese expedition reaches world's highest peak for scientific research
Updated: May 24, 2023 09:37Xinhua
Members of a Chinese expedition team display the Chinese national flag at the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
MOUNT QOMOLANGMA BASE CAMP, Tibet, May 23 -- A Chinese expedition team reached the summit of Mount Qomolangma on Tuesday, as they look to carry out scientific research on the world's highest peak.
The expeditionists departed the assault camp at an altitude of 8,300 meters at 3 a.m. Tuesday and arrived at the 8,830-meter weather station -- the highest of its kind in the world -- after eight hours of arduous climbing.
After affixing steel ropes, replacing batteries and installing wind speed and direction sensors, they completed the upgrades to the weather station.
They then climbed to the summit of 8,848.86 meters to collect ice and snow samples, which will be used for the research of air pollutants, especially new pollutants.
The 2023 Mt. Qomolangma expedition is part of the second comprehensive scientific expedition to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau initiated in 2017. Since the end of April, a total of 170 scientists have been conducting research on water, ecology and human activities around the Mt. Qomolangma region.
Members of a Chinese expedition team collect ice and snow samples at the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team head for the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team maintain and upgrade equipment at the 8,830-meter weather station on Mount Qomolangma, May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Scientific research members applause as they receive data from the 8,830-meter weather station at the mountaineering base camp in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows a view of Mount Qomolangma. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team maintain and upgrade equipment at the 8,830-meter weather station on Mount Qomolangma, May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team head for the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team head for the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team maintain and upgrade equipment at the 8,830-meter weather station on Mount Qomolangma, May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team head for the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Scientific research members check data sent from the 8,830-meter weather station at the mountaineering base camp in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team head for the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team head for the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team maintain and upgrade equipment at the 8,830-meter weather station on Mount Qomolangma, May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows a view of Mount Qomolangma. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team head for the summit of Mount Qomolangma on May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Members of a Chinese expedition team maintain and upgrade equipment at the 8,830-meter weather station on Mount Qomolangma, May 23, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the mountaineering base camp in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. A Chinese expedition team reached the summit of Mount Qomolangma on Tuesday, as they look to carry out scientific research on the world's highest peak. [Photo/Xinhua]
