Mount Everest’s growth is speeding up, Ancient ‘river capture’ may be the reason
According to the study, this natural phenomenon adds 15 to 50 meters to Everest's elevation.
Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world has always been growing gradually due to the collision of tectonic plates beneath it. However, a recent study suggests that Everest is now growing at a faster rate than usual; the cause may be a unique event known as “river capture” that occurred tens of thousands of years ago.
The study, published in the Nature Journal, revealed that Everest is currently growing at a rate of 0.08 inches (2 millimetres) per year—double the typical rate of 0.04 inches (1 millimetre) annually. Although this sudden growth spurt is attributed to changes in the surrounding rivers, a process known as “river piracy,” researchers from University College London have suggested that the unusual growth of Everest is linked to a “river capture event” that took place approximately 89,000 years ago.
The event occurred in the Kosi River drainage basin when the Kosi River merged with its tributary, the Arun River, altering its course. This shift caused significant erosion of the surrounding rocks, which affected nearby mountains more than Everest itself; this allowed the peak to grow more rapidly in comparison.
Despite the current tectonic activity, which is the principal driver of Everest’s ongoing growth, the analysis finds that (this) past river capture event played a critical role in hastening the mountain’s expansion. The scientists used computer models to mimic the river capture process, which resulted in Everest’s current height.
According to the study, this natural phenomenon adds 15 to 50 meters to Everest’s elevation. This discovery emphasizes the complicated connection between geological dynamics and the formation of Earth’s topographic characteristics, however, it also raises issues about how these two factors interact. Although the findings are significant, more research is needed to properly grasp the ramifications of this discovery, because understanding these interactions is crucial.
You might also be interested in – Mount Everest may not be the tallest mountain
