The Observed Low CO2 Concentration in the Rongbuk Valley on the Northern Slope of Mt. Everest
珠峰北坡绒布河谷大气二氧化碳浓度低值观测

In the summers of 2006 and 2007, the atmospheric CO2 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 CO2/H2O gas analyzer. The average CO2 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 CO2 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.