Ecosystem and High Altitude Research Laboratory

The High-Altitude Research Unit (HARU)   focuses on multi-disciplinary research with emphasis on high-altitude region. The unit maintains Pyramid Laboratory in Lobuche, near Everest Base camp at 5050 m above sea level with the objective to provide the scientific community of the country a self-contained high altitude / high latitude laboratory for scientific research.

The major activities of the unit are

•    Monitoring  Climate :with a network of 5 automatic weather stations from Lukla, Namche, Pheriche, Lobuche to Kala Patthar called Pyramid Meteorological Network. 

•    Monitoring  Glaciers: In collaboration with IRD, France, T.U., and University of Grenoble Mera Glacier and Pokhalde Glaciers are being monitored  .and a project “Sustainability of hydro-glaciological WATER resources in the HIMALaya under climate and glacier changes” with the aim to better understand the spatio-temporal variability of precipitations in the Everest region, as well as their link with the glacier evolution and the high elevation basin hydrology23.

•    Monitoring atmospheric micro/nano plastics: prevalence of micro-/nano plastics in the atmospheric compartment is  monitored with collection and analysis of atmospheric fallout/deposition with NILU fallout collector (collaboration with University of Birmingham/ LEHNA lab France).

•    Monitoring atmospheric composition: Situated at 5050m above sea level is the Nepal Climate Observatory-Pyramid equipped to perform continuous measurements of chemical (organic and inorganic, soluble and insoluble), physical (mass and number size distribution) and optical (absorption and scattering coefficients) properties of aerosol. Surface O3 and climate altering halocarbon concentrations are also measured at ABC-Pyramid. Aerosol sun photometry studies are carried out as well. (Collaboration with CNR, Italy).

Team members

1. Dr. Ram Chandra Poudel ([email protected])
2. Mr. Devesh Koirala ([email protected])
3. Mr. Sagar Subedi ([email protected])

Scientific Officer

Sagar Subedi
Scientific Officer

Debesh Koirala
Scientific Officer

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