A team of US scientists is preparing to climb Mount Everest to study how pollution has affected the Himalayan mountains and glaciers.
The team led by John All of Western Washington University plans to spend the next few months collecting samples and studying ice, snow and vegetation.
In May the team will tackle Everest, the world's highest mountain at the 8850m, and its sister peak Mount Lhotse.
"We are looking at how climate change has affected vegetation, we are looking at how climate change has affected the snow and water availability for local people and how it is affecting local people," Mr All told The Associated Press.
Professor John All, center, of Western Washington University, and his team Source: AP
The research team will use instruments to reflect light off glaciers to determine the amount of dirt on their surfaces.
"The more dirt there is, the more pollution accumulated on them and the more light absorption there is, and thus the larger impact on the glaciers, it is going to melt quickly," he said.
A year after his research expedition to the Everest region in 2009, Mr All climbed to the summit.
A member of US scientist team Source: AP
A research trip in 2014 ended after the deaths of 16 Nepali Sherpa guides in an avalanche brought an early end to the climbing season.
In May 2014, he fell 22m into a crevasse on a different mountain, breaking ribs and his right arm.
He crawled out of the hole despite his injuries before being rescued the next morning.
He managed to use his ice axe to work his way out of the hole, but had to move very slowly due to his broken bones. His teammates were in lower camps and would take two days to get to him.
Professor John All of Western Washington University Source: AP
"I want to try to make a difference and I feel like I should do something good for the world," Mr All said.
