Aerial photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows the central Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of the Mount Qomolangma, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Dainzin Nyima Choktrul)
With an altitude of about 5,400 meters, the central Rongbuk Glacier is scattered with seracs, ice bridges and ice needles, forming a spectacular view with its diverse bounties.
MOUNT QOMOLANGMA BASE CAMP, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The central Rongbuk Glacier is revealing its magnificent beauty to the Chinese surveyors who are on the mission of remeasuring the height of Mount Qomolangma. The Rongbuk Glacier is located on the vast area between 5,300 to 6,300 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Qomolangma.
Chinese surveyors prepare to remeasure the height of Mount Qomolangma in May.
Though the official announcement of the survey was made on Thursday, preparations have been going on for some time. Since March 2, 53 members of the team have conducted preliminary leveling, gravity, global navigation satellite system, and astronomical surveys at the mountain and its peripheral areas.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Chinese surveyors have conducted six rounds of scaled measurement and scientific research on Mount Qomolangma and released the height of the peak twice in 1975 and 2005, which was 8,848.13 meters and 8,844.43 meters, respectively.
This time, the team is using both traditional and modern surveying and mapping technologies such as GNSS satellite survey, precision leveling, geodimeter, snow depth radar survey, gravity survey, astronomical survey and satellite remote sensing, said Li Guopeng, team chief. China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and homegrown surveying equipment are applied to the measurement.
Aerial photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows the central Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of the Mount Qomolangma, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows the central Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of the Mount Qomolangma, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Aerial photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows the central Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of the Mount Qomolangma, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Aerial photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows the central Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of the Mount Qomolangma, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Aerial photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows the central Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of the Mount Qomolangma, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)
Photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows the central Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of the Mount Qomolangma, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Aerial photo taken on April 30, 2020 shows the central Rongbuk Glacier at the foot of the Mount Qomolangma, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)■