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SCIENCE

The reason why sounds at night are heard on Everest

A study by the University of Hokkaido revealed the cause of the loud roars heard on Mount Everest at night that have been described as “terrifying”.

A study by the University of Hokkaido revealed the cause of the loud roars heard on Mount Everest at night that have been described as “terrifying”.
SEBASTIEN BERGERAFP

For many years, the night sounds of Mount Everest have been a mystery to the scientific community, as whenever night fell on the Nepalese peak, loud rumblings of noise were produced , which some even dare to describe as “terrifying”. A group of researchers headed by the glaciologist Evgeny Podolskiy discovered the reason why nocturnal sounds were produced on Everest, associating its cause with the sudden drop in temperatures.

The investigation began in 2018 at the hands of a committee headed by Podolskiy associated with the Arctic Research Center at the University of Hokkaido, which was subsequently reported by the British newspaper Daily Mail in statements about the experience of these scientists.

Sudden drop in temperatures at nightfall

The team walked for a week in order to check the seismic activity of the Trakarding-Trambau glacier system. During the nights, they recount how the temperature suddenly dropped around 15º Celsius, accompanied by loud sounds that disturbed their sleep.

To find out what the noise was, they placed sensors in the ice to measure vibrations deep within the glacier, which then collected seismic vibration data and compared it with temperature and wind data. As a result, they established a link between changes in temperature and noise at night, resulting from the drop in temperatures with nightfall.