The Observed Low CO2 Concentration in the Rongbuk Valley on the Northern Slope of Mt. Everest

摘要

In the summers of 2006 and 2007, the atmospheric CO_(2) concentration and the wind speed in the Rongbuk Valley on the northern slope of Mt. Everest were measured by an ultrasonic anemometer with an Li-7500 CO_(2)/H_(2)O gas analyzer. The average CO_(2) concentration was 370.23±0.59 and 367.45±1.91 ppm in June of 2006 and 2007, respectively. The values are much lower than those at sites with similar latitudes and altitudes worldwide. The observed atmospheric CO_(2) concentration in Rongbuk Valley can be affected by the transportation of prevailing down-valley winds from the up-valley direction to the observation site. Our results suggest that the Mt. Everest region could be ideal for background atmospheric and environmental studies.