Groundbreaking Ice Core Drilling at Mt Everest: What Scientists Discovered

A historic joint expedition from China and Nepal has achieved the first full-depth ice core drilling at the summit of Mt Everest. This significant scientific endeavor aims to collect samples that will provide insights into climate and environmental changes in extreme altitudes. The expedition team successfully extracted ice cores at an altitude of 8,848.86 meters, with samples set to be analyzed for their implications on climate dynamics, pollutant transport, and the effects of global warming. As glaciers around Everest continue to thin rapidly, this research is crucial for understanding the ongoing changes in one of the world's most iconic natural landmarks.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 24, 2026, 19:02 IST

Historic Expedition on Mt Everest

Beijing: A collaborative scientific expedition from China and Nepal has successfully executed the first comprehensive ice core drilling at the peak of Mt Everest, aiming to gather samples that will shed light on climate and environmental shifts in extreme altitude regions.

The expedition team undertook the ice core drilling at an impressive height of 8,848.86 meters, marking a significant achievement in scientific research.

On Thursday, the team completed the inaugural full-depth ice core extraction in approximately two hours, as reported by China's state media.

During their descent, the researchers collected both ice and snow core samples from various altitude levels.

These samples will be preserved under low-temperature conditions and sent to laboratories for in-depth studies on climate variations, environmental changes, cryosphere evolution, and atmospheric records in the highest regions of the planet.

According to Chinese scientists, the findings from these samples are anticipated to enhance understanding of climate dynamics in high-altitude areas, the influence of the Indian monsoon, pollutant transport pathways, and the differing climate responses on the northern and southern slopes of Mt Everest.

Researching the world's tallest mountain is crucial, especially as it faces significant and largely irreversible changes due to global warming. A report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in May 2023 highlighted that 79 glaciers around Everest have lost over 100 meters in thickness in the past sixty years, with the rate of thinning nearly doubling since 2009.

In Tibetan, Mt Everest is referred to as Mount Qomolangma. The border dispute between China and Nepal was resolved in 1961, with the boundary line running through the summit of the mountain.

The Guinness World Records notes that an ice core was previously extracted at 8,020 meters (26,312 feet) from the South Col glacier, located just above Camp IV and 828 meters below the summit, in May 2019.