# Is Mount Everest Getting Taller? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 24, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mount-everest-getting-taller/385471 "2006-12-24T18:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mount-everest-getting-taller/385471/1 "2006-12-24T18:28:04Z")
My recent thread about the horrors of the commerial Everest-climbing business made me wonder: is the mountail growing in height? I recall the original survey of India (by George Everest) pit the mountain at 29,511 fet. When Hillary and Tenzing sumited in 1954, the height was 29,521 ft. Is the mountain being pushed higher? How long till it breaks 30,000 ft.? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mount-everest-getting-taller/385471/2 "2006-12-24T18:34:13Z")
From [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Everest): > [@](#): > > The elevation of 8,848 m (29,028 ft) was first determined by an Indian survey in 1955, made closer to the mountain, also using theodolites. It was subsequently reaffirmed by a 1975 Chinese measurement [6]. In both cases the snow cap, not the rock head, was measured. In May 1999 an American Everest Expedition, directed by Bradford Washburn, anchored a GPS unit into the highest bedrock. A rock head elevation of 8,850 m (29,035 feet), and a snow/ice elevation 1 m (3 ft) higher, were obtained via this device ,[7]. Nepal, however, did not officially recognize this survey, and the discrepancy with the above mentioned 2005 Chinese survey is significantly greater than the surveys’ claimed accuracy. > > It is thought that the plate tectonics of the area are adding to the height and moving the summit north-eastwards. Two accounts, [2], [8] suggest the rates of change are 4 mm per year (upwards) 3-6 mm per year (northeastwards), but this account[3] mentions more lateral movement (27 mm), and even shrinkage has been suggested [9]. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mount-everest-getting-taller/385471/3 "2006-12-24T18:36:03Z")
> [@](#): > > even shrinkage has been suggested Well, it _is_ cold up there. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mount-everest-getting-taller/385471/4 "2006-12-24T18:40:19Z")
At… > **[Everest Height Pondered by Scientists](https://www.mountainzone.com/features/everestht/)** > > The height of Mount Everest is put into question with the recent data brought back by the 1998 American Everest Expedition. …they say it’s shorter (snippet) “Therefore, the contemporary height for the summit would be no more than 8,830 meters, which is a hair less than 29,000’, or about 30 feet lower than the current accepted height of Mount Everest.” ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mount-everest-getting-taller/385471/5 "2006-12-25T16:33:46Z")
Much of this was due to measurement error. The laser-based methods are now capable of producing the best results. The remarkable thing is the accuracy of the original estimates from the old Trigonometric Survey. To get a sense of why the mountain is gaining height, understand that the Himalayans are on a tectonic plate, and that yet another plate is grinding under that plate, pushing it upwards.