Back to news
14 Jul 2020 | News

A new high for HKH research: Our partnership with National Geographic Society

1 min Read

70% Complete
Bringing HKH into the limelight
Tenzing Inka Nat Geo 2019 Heather Clifford
Bringing HKH into the limelight
Bringing HKH into the limelight
Tenzing Inka Nat Geo 2019 Heather Clifford 2

Photograph #1

A street performer around Bath Abbey.

Photograph #2

A street performer around Bath Abbey.

Photograph #3

A street performer around Bath Abbey.

Photograph #4

A street performer around Bath Abbey.

In 2019, National Geographic Society (NGS) undertook an expedition to Everest which included ICIMOD among a number of partners. This expedition included work on the highest glacier in world, Khumbu glacier, where ice samples were collected and multiple scientific research projects were conducted. Significantly adding to data availability, the expedition also involved the installation of five automatic weather stations (AWS) on Everest, with the highest installed at “The Balcony” at 8430m and the “South Col” 7945m. The AWS on The Balcony is now officially the highest AWS in the world.

We contributed to the NGS comprehensive map of Asia’s vital rivers building on scientific work to develop the first ever Water Tower Index. This collaboration with NGS complemented ICIMOD’s long-term effort of drawing much-needed global attention to climate change impacts in the HKH. It has also resulted in a range of communication products which will help highlight the value and vulnerability of the region.

Multiple academic papers are expected be published based on the data and information from the expedition. The July issue of National Geographic Magazine and the National Geographic TV Channel have featured the expedition. In addition, footage and photographs from the expedition are also being used to create educational materials, where ICIMOD researchers Inka Koch and Tenzing Sherpa are featured explaining AWS networks and how mapping helps us understand glacier and other environmental change in the region.

Here are some links to what has come out of this partnership so far:

Mapping change at the roof of the world
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/mapping-change-roof-world/

Inside the Everest expedition that built the world’s highest weather station https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/2019/06/mount-everest-highest-weather-station/

Asia’s Vital Rivers
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/07/asias-vital-rivers-perpetual-feature/

The world’s supply of fresh water is in trouble as mountain ice vanishes https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/12/water-towers-high-mountains-are-in-trouble-perpetual/  (See also, Importance and vulnerability of the world’s water towers: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1822-y)

How alpine species are adapting to climate change https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/2020/06/perpetual-planet-nepal-alpine-species/

National Geographic Perpetual Planet
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/perpetual-planet/

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up
26 Feb 2016 KSL
Sustainable Management of Local Varieties in Kailash

A local crop diversity fair in Khar VDC of Api-Nampa Conservation area of Kailash landscape of Nepal was organised at ...

14 Dec 2015 News
ICT for Mountain Development Award 2015

ICIMOD is pleased to announce the four winners of the ICT for Mountain Development Award 2015. They are BUET-Japan Institute ...

29 Jul 2015 News
A practical lesson for Bhutanese farmers

As part of support for Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation Programme (Himalica), a hands-on training on sustainable land management ...

6 Mar 2015 News
ICIMOD Engages with the Corporate Sector for Sustainable Ecosystem Goods and Services

The overarching objective of the joint workshop was to create a platform for the ...

25 May 2016 Himalica
Farmers Learn Beekeeping in Pilot Villages in Bhutan and Nepal

More than one-third of households have two to ten colonies of bees in traditional fixed-comb log-comb, wall-comb, or pitcher hives ...

2 Sep 2016 News
Koshi Basin Research Highlighted in India’s Largest Selling Daily

Embankment in Koshi Basin has further increased flood damage. This new finding was based on a research by ICIMOD Koshi ...

2 Jan 2015 News
Promoting regional efforts to reduce flood vulnerabilities

This final SRC meeting of the current phase was held from 22 to 24 September 2014 at the ...

10 Jul 2018 CBFEWS
Local Communities Take Ownership of Flood Early Warning System

ICIMOD, partners, and local governments have come together to save lives from flash flooding by installing eleven such community-based flood ...