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Measurement of Mt Everest again
Why is it in News?
- China and Nepal together decided to re-measure the elevation of the world’s highest mountain.
Details:
- Current height:
(1) Everest’s current official height is 8,848m since 1956.
(2) It was measured by the Survey of India.
- Why re-measurement?
(1) The height is known to change because of tectonic activity, such as the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
(2) There is a debate about whether the height should be based on the highest rock point or the highest snow point.
(3) In 2010
(a) China accepted Nepal’s claim of the snow height being 8,848m.
(b) Nepal recognised the Chinese claim of the rock height at 8,844.43m.
(4) Previous measurements of the mountain were by Indian, American or European surveyors.
(5) Joint effort represents national pride for Nepal and China.
- Everest’s first survey:
(1) A team was led by Andrew Waugh of the Royal Surveyor General of India.
(2) The team discovered that ‘Peak 15’ (Mt Everest) was the highest mountain, contrary to the prevailing belief that Mt Kanchenjunga (8,582 m) was the highest peak in the world.
(3) Measurement was 29000 ft which was later converted into 8,840 m.
(4) The survey, based on trigonometric calculations, is known as the Great Trigonometric Survey of India.
Mt Everest:
(1) It is also known as ‘Sagarmatha’.
(2) It lies on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
(3) In 1865 the mountain—previously referred to as Peak 15—was renamed for Sir George Everest, British surveyor general of India from 1830 to 1843.
(4) Everest is shaped like a three-sided pyramid.
(5) Glacial action has been the primary force behind the heavy and continuous erosion of Everest .