The International Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory is an Italian scientific base located at an altitude of 4,980 meters on the southern slope of Mount Everest, in Nepal. Inaugurated in October 1990 at the initiative of Professor Ardito Desio and Agostino Da Polenza, the Pyramid is a unique structure globally for high-altitude scientific research. From the beginning, it was designed to conduct studies in various fields such as meteorology, hydrology, geology, medicine, and biology.
The facility can accommodate up to 30 researchers and is equipped with several monitoring stations that track the surrounding environment, including air quality. In 2014, it was recognized by the World Meteorological Organization as a reference point for atmospheric monitoring. Over its 30 years of operation, the laboratory has hosted more than 500 scientific missions, contributing to significant discoveries in various fields. However, following the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pyramid’s activities faced a setback. Recently, the Pyramid Laboratory has fully resumed operations, with renewed focus on climate, environmental, and physiological research, reaffirming its status as a global benchmark for high-altitude science. This revival marks a new chapter for the facility, which will also undergo a transformation into a zero-emissions center.
The monitoring stations along the Everest Valley and at the Pyramid are part of an advanced project that goes beyond simple climate monitoring. Equipped with cutting-edge technologies like the DORIS system to measure ground movements with millimeter precision, these stations track not only climate change but also seismic activity and air quality. The seismic station, anchored to solid rock, recorded events such as the devastating 2015 earthquake, providing crucial data for seismologists. Additionally, the air quality monitoring station, recognized by the WMO as part of the Global Atmospheric Watch, detects dust and gases circulating globally, even at high altitudes. These stations contribute to a more accurate understanding of environmental changes in one of the planet’s most sensitive regions. KALA PATTAR - 5600 mMain Monitoring Points at Mount Everest
PYRAMID - 5000 m
PERICHE - 4300 m
NAMCHE BAZAR - 3500 m
CHAURIKARKA (LUKLA) - 2800m
The Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory is one of the oldest and most stable ground monitoring points for the DORIS system (Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite). This system, developed by CNES (French National Centre for Space Studies) in the 1980s, is used for geodesy and satellite positioning, leveraging the Doppler effect. The Everest Pyramid: the most stable terrestrial monitoring point of the DORIS system
DORIS operates through a network of ground-based transmitting stations that send signals to satellites equipped with receivers. By analyzing the Doppler shift of these signals, the system can accurately determine the position of satellites in orbit, which is useful for monitoring sea levels, tectonic movements, and climate changes. The Pyramid Laboratory is one of the key reference stations for this system, contributing consistently to the collection of crucial data on geodynamics and environmental changes. Its strategic location and structural stability make it one of the most important and reliable sites for terrestrial monitoring via DORIS.
