Barometric pressures on Mt. Everest: new data and physiological significance

Abstract

Barometric pressures (Pb) near the summit of Mt. Everest (altitude 8,848 m) are of great physiological interest because the partial pressure of oxygen is very near the limit for human survival. Until recently, the only direct measurement on the summit was 253 Torr, which was obtained in October 1981, but, despite being only one data point, this value has been used by several investigators. Recently, two new studies were carried out. In May 1997, another direct measurement on the summit was within ∼1 Torr of 253 Torr, and meteorologic data recorded at the same time from weather balloons also agreed closely. In the summer of 1998, over 2,000 measurements were transmitted from a barometer placed on the South Col (altitude 7,986 m). The mean Pbvalues during May, June, July, and August were 284, 285, 286, and 287 Torr, respectively, and there was close agreement with the Pb-altitude (h) relationship determined from the 1981 data. The Pb values are well predicted from the equation Pb = exp (6.63268 − 0.1112 h − 0.00149 h2), where h is in kilometers. The conclusion is that on days when the mountain is usually climbed, during May and October, the summit pressure is 251–253 Torr.