North Wales firm’s technology powers Everest glacier breakthrough
A North Wales firm's technology played a crucial role in a recent expedition to the Khumbu Glacier on Mount Everest, providing high-resolution images of the glacier's internal structure. The findings are reshaping scientists' understanding of glacier behavior and the impacts of climate change.
A scientific partnership between Professor Bryn Hubbard of Aberystwyth University and Robertson Geo, a North Wales firm, has led to a groundbreaking expedition to the Khumbu Glacier on Mount Everest. The team used Robertson Geo's televiewer technology to collect high-resolution borehole images at 6,660 meters above sea level. The equipment performed reliably in extreme conditions, with temperatures below -25°C and oxygen levels less than half of those at sea level. Preliminary findings show unexpectedly warm 'firn' temperatures and evidence of melt and refreezing processes. The data revealed internal ice slabs and lenses, offering insight into glacier structure and deformation. The research has significant implications for understanding the impacts of climate change on Himalayan glaciers, which supply freshwater to over 10% of the world's population.
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