The last batch of six members in the scientific expedition team to Mt. Qomolangma headed by Ma Yaoming, a researcher with the CAS had arrived at the base camp at Mt. Qomolangma April 6. They will start work along with another 20-odd teammates who had arrived earlier. This signifies China's 4th scientific expedition to Mt. Qomolangma will be in full swing.

The comprehensive scientific study and survey of Mt. Qomolangma's height will be carried out simultaneously. Being China's first comprehensive scientific study at Mt. Qomolangma in the 21st century, the scientific expedition is also the largest one during the past 30 years. The subject of this expedition is "Mt. Qomolangma area's response to global changes".

The thirty scientific workers in the team are divided into five groups specializing in atmospheric environment, atmospheric physics, glacier, ecology and geology respectively. They will find out the area's significance in global climate change through study and observation of physical and chemical elements in the atmosphere, glacier change, biological diversity and change of ecological environment; evaluate global warming's impact on glacier and future development trend; study ecological environment's change during the past 30 years and the changing process, focus on features of the biological diversity's change; interpret ecological environment's response to climate change; and observe change of Mt. Qomolangma's height.

By People's Daily Online