Thread: Himalayan 'drop after Nepal quake'

By Navin Singh Khadka Environment reporter, BBC World Service



The height of a swathe of the Himalayas has dropped by around one metre as a result of the devastating Nepal earthquake, scientists say.

But they add that the drop will roughly be balanced by slow uplift due to tectonic activity.

And they have yet to analyse satellite images of the region in which the most famous Himalayan peak - Everest - is located.

However, there continues to be debate over exactly how tall Everest is.

"The primary stretch that had its height dropped is a 80-100km stretch of the Langtang Himal (to the northwest of the capital, Kathmandu)," said Richard Briggs, a research geologist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The Langtang range is the region where many locals and trekkers are still missing, presumed dead, after the avalanches and landslides that were triggered by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on 25 April.

Scientists believe the height of a handful of other Himalayan peaks, including the Ganesh Himal to the west of the Langtang range, may also have dropped.

The satellite images they have analysed so far have focused on central Nepal, which was the hardest hit by the quake. Everest is to the east of this main shaking zone.

Himalayan 'drop after Nepal quake' - BBC News