Weather on <scp>K2</scp> during historic first winter ascent

Matthews, Tom; Perry, L. Baker; Aryal, Deepak; Elmore, Aurora C.; Khadka, Arbindra; Pelto, Mauri; Shrestha, Dibas; Wilby, Rob

doi:10.1002/wea.4094

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…WDrelated mountain hazards are thus becoming an increasingly important issue as tourism to the Himalaya grows rapidly (Ziegler et al, 2023), such as in the 2014 Everest avalanche (killing at least 13 people), and the 2014 Annapurna snowstorm (killing 43). Conversely, favourable weather conditions caused by the absence of WDs leads to more successful winter summits of the 8000-m mountains (Szymczak et al, 2021), including the first ever wintertime summit of K2 in 2021 (Matthews et al, 2022).…”

Section: Landslides and Avalanchesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Western disturbances and climate variability: a review of recent developments

Hunt,

Baudouin,

Turner

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Abstract. Western disturbances (WDs) are synoptic-scale weather systems embedded within the subtropical westerly jet. Manifesting as upper-level troughs often associated with a lower-tropospheric low over Western India, they share some dynamical features with extratropical cyclones. WDs are most common during the boreal winter (December to March), during which they bring the majority of precipitation – both rain and snow – to the Western Himalaya, as well as to surrounding areas of north India, Pakistan and the Tibetan Plateau. WDs are also associated with weather hazards such as heavy snowfall, hailstorms, fog, cloudbursts, avalanches, frost, and coldwaves. In this paper, we review the recent understanding and development on WDs. Recent studies have collectively made use of novel data, novel analysis techniques, and the increasing availability of high-resolution weather and climate models. This review is separated into six main sections – structure and thermodynamics, precipitation and impacts, teleconnections, modelling experiments, forecasting at a range of scales, and paleoclimate and climate change – each motivated with a brief discussion of the accomplishments and limitations of previous research. A number of step changes in understanding are synthesised. Use of new modelling frameworks and tracking algorithms has significantly improved knowledge of WD structure and variability, and a more frequentist approach can now be taken. Improved observation systems have helped quantification of water security over the Western Himalaya. Convection-permitting models have improved our understanding of how WDs interact with the Himalayas to trigger natural hazards. Improvements in paleoclimate and future climate modelling experiments have helped to explain how WDs and their impacts over the Himalaya respond to large-scale natural and anthropogenic forcings. We end by summarising unresolved questions and outlining key future WD research topics.

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Section: Landslides and Avalanchesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Western disturbances and climate variability: a review of recent developments

Hunt,

Baudouin,

Turner

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…22,23 Weather conditions can also affect the inclination to exercise and adversely impact participant health. 24,25 For extreme sports, such as mountaineering, severe weather can make the difference between extraordinary triumph, 26 life, or death. 27 These examples illustrate some of the varied ways in which climate change impacts sport.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of sport emissions on climate: Measurement, mitigation, and making a difference

Wilby

Orr

Depledge

et al. 2022

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

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As a global industry, sport makes potentially significant contributions to climate change through both carbon emissions and influence over sustainability practices. Yet, evidence regarding impacts is uneven and spread across many disciplines. This paper investigates the impacts of sport emissions on climate and identifies knowledge gaps.We undertook a systematic and iterative meta-analysis of relevant literature (1992-2022) on organized and individual sports. Using a defined search protocol, 116 sources were identified that map to four sport-related themes: (1) carbon emissions and their measurement; (2) emissions control and decarbonization; (3) carbon sinks and offsets; and (4) behavior change. We find that mega sport events, elite sport, soccer, skiing, and golf have received most attention, whereas grass-roots and women's sport, activity in Africa and South America, cricket, tennis, and volleyball are understudied. Other knowledge gaps include carbon accounting tools and indicators for smaller sports clubs and active participants; cobenefits and tradeoffs between mitigation-adaptation efforts in sport, such as around logistics, venues, sports equipment, and facilities; geopolitical influence; and scope for climate change litigation against hosts and/or sponsors of carbon-intensive events. Among these, researchers should target cobenefits given their scope to deliver wins for both climate mitigation and risk management of sport.

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Simulations of the human heat balance during Mount Everest summit attempts in spring and winter

Błażejczyk,

Havenith,

Szymczak

2023

Int J Biometeorol

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The majority of research dealing with the impacts of the Himalayan climate on human physiology focuses on low air temperature, high wind speed, and low air pressure and oxygen content, potentially leading to hypothermia and hypoxia. Only a few studies describe the influence of the weather conditions in the Himalayas on the body’s ability to maintain thermal balance. The aim of the present research is to trace the heat exchange between humans and their surroundings during a typical, 6-day summit attempt of Mount Everest in the spring and winter seasons. Additionally, an emergency night outdoors without tent protection is considered. Daily variation of the heat balance components were calculated by the MENEX_HA model using meteorological data collected at automatic weather stations installed during a National Geographic expedition in 2019–2020. The data represent the hourly values of the measured meteorological parameters. The research shows that in spite of extreme environmental conditions in the sub-summit zone of Mount Everest during the spring weather window, it is possible to keep heat equilibrium of the climbers’ body. This can be achieved by the use of appropriate clothing and by regulating activity level. In winter, extreme environmental conditions in the sub-summit zone make it impossible to maintain heat equilibrium and lead to hypothermia. The emergency night in the sub-peak zone leads to gradual cooling of the body which in winter can cause severe hypothermia of the climber’s body. At altitudes < 7000 m, climbers should consider using clothing that allows variation of insulation and active regulation of their fit around the body.

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Weather on K2 during historic first winter ascent

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

Western disturbances and climate variability: a review of recent developments

Western disturbances and climate variability: a review of recent developments

The impacts of sport emissions on climate: Measurement, mitigation, and making a difference

Simulations of the human heat balance during Mount Everest summit attempts in spring and winter

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