News Summary
- A glacial avalanche in Rasuwa has caused extensive damage to lives and property, with search and rescue operations ongoing.
- A study by six researchers, including Khimlal Gautam, has shown that even human urine at the Everest Base Camp contributes to glacier melting.
- The study indicates that from 1991 to 2023, the surface temperature around the Everest Base Camp has risen by 0.28 degrees Celsius annually.
A glacial avalanche in Rasuwa has inflicted significant damage to both lives and properties. Search and rescue operations are actively underway. Amid this major humanitarian and material loss, there has been renewed discourse on Nepal’s Himalayan region and climate change. Following the largest disaster event recorded in the Himalayan area to date, global concern over the state of Nepal’s mountains and glaciers has intensified. Numerous studies have confirmed that climate change is accelerating glacial retreat worldwide. Despite technological limitations, mountaineering activities have increased significantly, leading to heightened human presence and impact in the high mountains.
In this context, a team of four Nepali and two international researchers conducted a pioneering study published in a leading international journal examining human contributions to glacier melting in the Himalayan region. Their research highlights that human urine significantly contributes to glacial melt.
The researchers—Khimlal Gautam, Virginia Brackett, George Jian, Mahesh Thapa, Anish Dahal, and Sudip Thakuri—based their analysis on data collected during the spring of 2023 at the Everest Base Camp. The study focused on global climate change, local fossil fuel usage, and human waste discharge as key contributing factors. According to their findings, the total thermal energy generated at the base camp during the 2023 season was estimated at 849,174 ± 179,774 megajoules, sufficient to melt approximately 2,492 ± 528 tons of glacier ice.
Their conclusions reveal an annual increase in surface temperature of 0.28 degrees Celsius around the Everest Base Camp area from 1991 to 2023. This rate is more than double the temperature rise near the Khumbu Glacier and 15% higher than in some degraded surrounding areas. These results underscore the growing impact of human activity on the fragile Himalayan environment and emphasize the urgent need for conservation efforts.
In an exclusive interview, Khimlal Gautam, a member of the research team, shared valuable insights into ongoing research on mountain glaciers, recent scientific findings, and the challenges emerging from these developments.
You have been continuously engaged in mountain and glacier research. Recently, Khimlal Gautam and other scientists released a detailed study on melting water in the mountains. The glacial avalanche in Rasuwa caused massive devastation. What does this tell us about the current status of Nepal’s mountain regions?
Although our primary field is not glaciology or cryosphere science, I am involved in geospatial sciences related to mountain studies. For the past 15 years, I have maintained close ties with Everest and its base camp. I have served as a technical officer and liaison for climbers and fluid measurement tasks.
By 2026, I will have climbed Everest twice and spent over 365 days in the mountain region. Comparing the state of the base camp post-COVID-19 to May 2011 reveals significant changes. Previously, massive ice chunks (ice seracs) frequently obscured views of the base camp, but these have considerably diminished.
In the lower Khumbu Glacier region, alpine vegetation that used to spread downward is now retreating upslope—a phenomenon known as glacier retreat. Local studies clearly document this shift.
Since the 2008 Chinese Olympics and notably after 2010, the number of commercial climbing expeditions to Everest has surged sharply.
We consider climate change and global warming to be the primary causes of rising temperatures in the Himalayan region, which affects the Arctic and mountain areas most intensely.
The study indicates that certain human activities significantly impact glacier melting. Which specific activities are involved?
Our study relies on data collected from the base camp and satellite imagery. We focused on three main contributors: global warming, local fossil fuel consumption, and human urine discharge.
Camp inhabitants use fossil fuels such as kerosene, diesel, and petrol for heating and cooking, releasing smoke and heat that adversely affect the environment.
Similarly, the temperature and chemical composition of human urine also contribute to ice melting. It is estimated that around 154 tons of urine are disposed of at the base camp each season.
How does urine affect the mountains and glaciers?
Urine temperature is approximately 37 degrees Celsius. When it contacts glacier ice or moraines at temperatures below freezing, it accelerates evaporation and direct melting. Although the quantity is relatively small, the impact is significant.
In Himalayan areas, urine and feces are not typically treated separately, and urine is generally discharged directly onto glaciers, leading to measurable environmental effects, as the study highlights.
This research provides important insights into the extent of human impacts on the fragile Himalayan environment and underscores the urgent need for effective strategic interventions.
Given the flood and landslide in Rasuwa, how likely is the recurrence of such events along with ongoing changes in glaciers and climate?
Nepal’s share of global carbon emissions is under 0.1%, yet the high emissions of developed nations directly affect our Himalayan region. Due to the area’s geological vulnerability, changing climate patterns produce rapid and profound impacts.
At the current rate, the coming 10–15 years could witness drastic transformations in the Himalayas. Prompt adoption of adaptation and mitigation strategies for mountain conservation is essential.
