Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Elemental composition in surface snow from the ultra-high elevation area of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest)

  • Articles
  • Geography
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

A total of 14 surface snow (0–10 cm) samples were collected along the climbing route (6500–8844 m a.s.l.) on the northern slope of Mt. Qomolangma in May, 2005. Analysis of elemental concentrations in these samples showed that there are no clear trends for element variations with elevation due to redistribution of surface snow by strong winds during spring. In addition, local crustal aerosol inputs also have an influence on elemental composition of surface snow. Comparison between elemental concentration datasets of 2005 and 1997 indicated that data from 2005 were of higher quality. Elemental concentrations (especially for heavy metals) at Mt. Qomolangma are comparable with polar sites, and far lower than large cities. This indicates that anthropogenic activities and heavy metal pollution have little effect on the Mt. Qomolangma atmospheric environment, which can be representative of the background atmospheric environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jenkins M, James D. Chemical composition of fresh snow on Mount Qomolangma. J Geophys Res, 1987, D9: 10999–11002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sun J Y, Qin D H, Ren J W. Progresses in studies of heavy metals in snow and ice. J Glaciol Geodryol (in Chinese), 1996, 18(3): 284–288

    Google Scholar 

  3. Qin D H, Yao T D. Laboratory of Ice Core and Cold Regions Environment: Retrospect and Prospect. J Glaciol Geodryol (in Chinese), 2000, 22(3): 261–269

    Google Scholar 

  4. Qin D H, Ren J W, Kang S C. Review and Prospect on the Study of Antarctic Glaciology in China during the Last 10 Years. J Glaciol Geodryol (in Chinese), 2000, 22(4): 376–383

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kang S C, Mayewski P A, Qin D H, et al. Glaciochemical records from a Mt. Qomolangma ice core: relationship to atmospheric circulation over Asia. Atmos Environ, 2002, 36(21): 3351–3361

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kang S C, Mayewski P A, Qin D H, et al. Seasonal differences in snow chemistry from the vicinity of Mt. Qomolangma, central Himalayas. Atmos Environ, 2004, 38(18): 2819–2829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhang D Q, Qin D H, Hou S G. Chemical characteristic study of snow and snow pit in Mount Qomolangma region. J Lanzhou Univ (Natural Sciences) (in Chinese), 2002, 38(4): 119–124

    Google Scholar 

  8. Duan J P, Ren J W, Qin X, et al. Heavy metals concentrations and seasonal variations in snow of Mount Qomolangma Region. J Geophys Sci (in Chinese), 2007, 62(1): 22–29

    Google Scholar 

  9. Comprehensive Investigation Team of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Report of Scientific Expedition in Mt. Qomolangma (1975), Meteorology and Environment. Beijing: Science Press, 1980. 21–35

  10. Wake C P, Dibb J E, Mayewski P A, et al. The chemical-composition of aerosols over the eastern Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau during low dust periods. Atmos Environ, 1994, 28(4): 695–704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wake C P, Mayewski P A, Xie Z C, et al. Regional Distribution of Monsoon and Desert Dust Signals Recorded in Asian Glaciers. Geophys Res Lett, 1993, 20(14): 1411–1414

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Qin D H, Mayewski P A, Wake C P. Evidence for recent climate change from ice cores in the Himalayas. Annals of Glaciology, 2000, 31: 153–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Dansgaard W. Stable isotope in precipitation. Tellus, 1964, 14(4): 436–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Fang X M, Han Y X, Ma J H, et al. Dust storms and loess accumulation on the Tibetan Plateau: A case study of dust event on 4 March 2003 in Lhasa. Chin Sci Bull (in Chinese), 2004, 49(9): 953–960

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Song L C, Han Y X, Zhang Q, et al. Monthly Temporal-Spatial Distribution of Sandstorms in China as Well as the Origin of Kosa in Japan and Korea. Chin J Atmos Sci (in Chinese), 2004, 28(6): 820–827

    Google Scholar 

  16. Veysseyre A, Moutard K, Ferrari C, et al. Heavy metals in fresh snow collected at different altitudes in the Chamonix and Maurienne valleys, French Alps: initial results. Atmos Environ, 2001, 35(2): 415–425

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kang S C, Qin D H, Mayewski P A, et al. Chemical composition of fresh snow on Xixabangma peak, central Himalaya, during the summer monsoon season. J Glaciol, 2002, 48(161): 337–339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Warneck P. Chemistry of the Natural Atmosphere. San Diego, CA: In Academic Press, 1988. Vol. 41

    Google Scholar 

  19. Xie A H, Ren J W, Qin X, et al. Meteorological features at 6523m of Mt. Qomolangma (Qomolangma) between 1 May and 22 July 2005. J Mt Sci, 2006, 3(3): 181–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ikegawa M, Kimura M, Honda K, et al. Geographical variations of major and trace elements in East Antarctica. Atmos Environ, 1999, 33(9): 1457–1467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Douglas T A, Sturm M. Arctic haze, mercury and the chemical composition of snow across northwestern Alaska. Atmos Environ, 2004, 38(6): 805–820

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Barbante C, Boutron C, Morel C, et al. Seasonal variations of heavy metals in central Greenland snow deposited from 1991 to 1995. J Environ Monitor, 2003, 5(2): 328–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Kanellopoulou E A. Determination of heavy metals in wet deposition of Athens. GLOBAL NEST: The International Journal, 2001, 3(1): 45–50

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, Beijing, 100085, China

    Zhang QiangGong, Kang ShiChang, Cong ZhiYuan & Liu YongQin

  2. Graduate University of CAS, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhang QiangGong, Cong ZhiYuan & Liu YongQin

  3. State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, CAS, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Kang ShiChang & Hou ShuGui

Authors
  1. Zhang QiangGong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kang ShiChang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cong ZhiYuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hou ShuGui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Liu YongQin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kang ShiChang.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40401054, 90411003 and 40121101), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No.2005CB422004), Social Commonweal Research Project of Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No.2005DIA3J106),the “Talent Project” and Innovation Project (Grant No.KZCX3-SW-334/339) of CAS, and Dean Foundation of CAS

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, Q., Kang, S., Cong, Z. et al. Elemental composition in surface snow from the ultra-high elevation area of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest). Chin. Sci. Bull. 53, 289–294 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0446-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-007-0446-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation