Ground Temperature and its Relation to Permafrost Occurrences in the Khumbu Region and Hidden Valley

Abstract

In order to detect the existence of permafrost and study its relation to ground temperature distribution in high altitude of the Himalayas, ground temperature measurements were carried out in the Khumbu region and Hidden Valley, Mukut Himal. The results indicate that permafrost occurs above 4900-5000 m in the Khumbu region and above 5000 m in Hidden Valley. The lapse rates of the ground temperature at a depth of 50 cm below the surface are about 0.9-1.0°C/100 m and about 0.4°C/100 m above and below the lower attitudinal limit of permafrost distribution in both regions.