Past Experience

EverDrill Project

 2016/Sep - 2019/Aug 

The Himalayan Research Expedition  (HRE) was a proud partner in the EverDrill Project (Everest Region Drilling Program), lasting 3 years from 2016 to 2019, as a local logistical support partner. The research was three years (2016 – 2019) of high altitude scientific expedition in the Khumbu region. The research was a collaboration between Himalayan Research Center, Nepal Geographical Society, Kathmandu University, University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield and Aberystwyth University. It was a successful example of partnership between international and local research parties. 

Dr Dhananjay Regmi, our chairman, expressed the necessity of research in the Himalayan region, known as the “Third Pole” due to the amount of ice stored there, the region’s research history and the current status. The fact that glaciers in the Himalayan region act as watershed for the entire Indian subcontinent meant HRE was proud to be involved in such an important project.

Findings from the research in the Khumbu region showed that 56% of ablation area of Khumbu glacier was comprised of warm ice and the coldest ice was only -3.3 °C, which was higher than expected for the glacier at the altitude of 5200 m. Researchers found that the warming rate of ice in the glacier was 0.5°C per decade, meaning the whole of Khumbu region is in peril. Most of the ice was warmer than the air temperature, meaning even the slightest increase of the air temperature may lead to acceleration of the glacier melt, meaning catastrophic consequences for the region. Floods and droughts are likely to be common and increase in the glacial lake growth leads to increase in Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) hazard. The glaciers in the region, which play an important role as a watershed, may cease to exist in near future.

To get the data, the research team used a special equipment that produced a pressurised jet of hot water to drill 27 boreholes to almost 200 meters into the glacial ice at five different sites, at the height up to 5200 metres. Temperature sensors were installed into those holes and were left to collect data for several months.

 

Walk the Talk Field Conference

10 – 21 December 2018

Himalayan Research Expedition (HRE) was involved in the logistical arrangement of international conference Walk the Talk Field Conference, which was organized by Himalayan Research Center, Nepal Geographical Society and Kathmandu Center for Research and Education. The conference was a field conference with talks in different parts of Khumbu region. The idea behind the conference was to build a bridge between the researchers and scientists and locals.

For a long time, Khumbu region has remained as one of Nepal’s most popular tourist and research destinations, and many researchers from a variety of disciplines have completed their Masters and Ph.D.s based on field studies conducted in the region. Unfortunately, the sharing of research results and findings, both between researchers as well as with local people, has been chronically limited. Local people have been largely unaware of the findings of major research projects within their own homeland, information which likewise rarely finds its way into the development planning process.

The Walk the Talk conference was an innovative field-based initiative organized for researchers and practitioners to discuss contemporary environmental, cultural, and developmental themes of the Khumbu while in the field instead of in an office. It also provided opportunities to educate and inform participants about the environment in which they are in, while directly experiencing that environment for themselves.

HRE is very proud to be able to facilitate and arrange the meet between the scientists and the local people, whose environment is the focus of many studies and disseminate the knowledge to concerned parties.  

 

Monitoring atmospheric pollen around Rara Lake

 2019/April – 2020/April 

Himalayan Research Expedition (HRE) was happy to assist researchers of Institute of Tibetean Plateau and Tribhuwan University as local partner as well as logistical support to carry out the research on the monitoring of atmospheric pollen around the Rara Lake. Rara was the location of the research as it is at an ideal altitude with close vicinity to natural forest without a significant impact from the human influence. 

The research is conducted to understand the floristic composition around Rara with study on the pollen production, dissemination and deposition. Furthermore, it looks at the variation in the composition due to season, atmospheric dynamics and wind directions. Finally, the study also tries to determine if there are any harmful allergic pollens for humans. 

HRE has supported this endeavour as a logistical partner from gaining research permit to all the transportation, logistics, food and lodging arrangement in the field. We are always happy to assist researchers to different parts of the country, be it easily accessible or remote corners as we truly embody our motto “we trek for science”.

 

Work on the thickness measurement of Khumbu Glacier 

2019/Oct To  2020/June

Himalayan Research Expedition (HRE) is involved as the local supporting partner to British Antarctic Survey in their bid to measure the glacier wide ice thickness. This comprehensive measurement of the glacier will reduce the uncertainty around the river flows during the summer. Plus, the study will also look for the new hotspots for glacier melting and formation of lakes, which will prepare the community downstream for the probable hazards. 

Climate change is a serious threat to our way of living and receding glaciers are the most concrete proof of that happening. So, study of glaciers is important to predict and correct the course that we are taking. HRE has been actively helping and supporting research teams that study glaciers and glacial lakes in all different parts of the country. We believe that proper research is paramount to formation of policies, especially if it concerns our future in this planet.