U.S. scientists to climb Everest, collect data on climate

A team of American scientists have flown to the Mount Everest region to study how pollution has impacted the Himalayan mountains and glaciers that are melting due to global warming.

The team led by John All of Western Washington University left March 27 and plans to spend the next two months in the region collecting samples and studying the ice, snow and vegetation.

In May, the team members will try to climb the 29,035-foot-high Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, and its sister peak Mount Lhotse.

The team plan to share the samples, data and studies with local university and government agencies in Nepal to compare with data the professor collected on a 2009 visit.

They plan to study the color and mineral content of the snow and ice on higher elevations of the mountains while collecting plants and other vegetation on the foothills, All said.