2012
DOI: 10.1186/2046-7648-1-2
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Environmental conditions at the South Col of Mount Everest and their impact on hypoxia and hypothermia experienced by mountaineers

Abstract: BackgroundHypoxia and hypothermia are acknowledged risk factors for those who venture into high-altitude regions. There is, however, little in situ data that can be used to quantify these risks. Here, we use 7 months of continuous meteorological data collected at the South Col of Mount Everest (elevation 7,896 m above sea level) to provide the first in situ characterization of these risks near the summit of Mount Everest.MethodsThis is accomplished through the analysis of barometric pressure, temperature and w… Show more

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Cited by 5 publications
(7 citation statements)
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“…Everest without supplemental oxygen in winter has been raised before but based on ∼324 hPa to characterize summit pressure ( Garrido et al, 2019 ; West, 1999 ). Our reconstruction emphasizes that this value may be an appropriate descriptor of average conditions, but highlights the possibility of much lower pressures still, agreeing with previous research in noting the importance of variability (weather) around the mean ( Moore and Semple, 2004 , 2011 ; Moore et al., 2012 ).…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 91%
“…Everest without supplemental oxygen in winter has been raised before but based on ∼324 hPa to characterize summit pressure ( Garrido et al, 2019 ; West, 1999 ). Our reconstruction emphasizes that this value may be an appropriate descriptor of average conditions, but highlights the possibility of much lower pressures still, agreeing with previous research in noting the importance of variability (weather) around the mean ( Moore and Semple, 2004 , 2011 ; Moore et al., 2012 ).…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 91%
“…Low BP, low Temp and high Wind are the main environmental factors that limit human performance and survival at high altitude ( West and Wagner, 1980 ; West et al, 1983a , 2007b ; Huey et al, 2001 ; Huey and Eguskitza, 2001 ; Moore and Semple, 2012 ; Moore et al, 2012 ). We aimed to evaluate weather extremes in the Death Zone and to determine the most severe environmental conditions that mountaineers have experienced.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…BP imposes the main limit on physiological performance at high altitude because it determines the critically important partial pressure of inspired oxygen, maximum oxygen uptake and speed of vertical ascent ( Pugh et al, 1964 ; West and Wagner, 1980 ; West, 1983 , 2000 ; West et al, 1983a , b , 2007b ; Sutton et al, 1988 ; Bailey, 2001 ; Matthews et al, 2020b ). Low temperatures and high winds significantly compound physiological stress at extreme altitudes ( Huey et al, 2001 ; Huey and Eguskitza, 2001 ; McIntosh et al, 2008 ; Moore and Semple, 2011 , 2012 ; Moore et al, 2012 ).…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
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“…Meteorological factors that limit human survival at the top of Everest—such as barometric pressure (BP), wind chill equivalent temperature (WCT), and facial frostbite time (FFT)—have already been assessed with meteorological datasets and in situ observations [ 9 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. The estimated average monthly BP in May on Everest, its main climbing season, is 333 hPa, and in midwinter in January and February, it is 323 hPa [ 23 ].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%