Vertical Deformation Characteristics Affected by Strong Earthquakes in Mount Qomolangma and Surrounding Areas

  Objectives  The impact of the 2015 Nepal earthquake on the height of Mount Qomolangma has attracted worldwide attention in recent years. 2020 height measurement of Mount Qomolangma has set up a high-precision GNSS(global navigation satellite system) deformation monitoring network in Mount Qomolangma and its surrounding areas. In addition, we have collected the GNSS observation datum of 32 CORS(continuously operating reference stations) across the Himalayas during 1999 to 2020.

  Methods  We monitor the three-dimensional crustal deformation characteristics of Mount Qomolangma and surrounding areas, and quantitatively obtained the co-seismic displacement of the CORS around the Mount Qomolangma of the 2015 Nepal earthquake, as well as the impact of the earthquake on the long-term trend of regional three-dimensional crustal deformation, especially on the vertical deformation in this region.

  Results  The results show that the vertical crustal deformation in this area has obvious stepped distribution characteristics from south to north across the Himalayas. After the earthquake, there was an accelerated convergence trend between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate, which led to the synchronous increase of the crustal uplift rate after the earthquake.

  Conclusions  The crustal rise in Mount Qomolangma and surrounding areas is the main trend. The 2015 Nepal earthquake caused the crustal decline in a short time, but did not change the long-term uplift trend.