A 24-member Chinese expedition left Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, for Mount Qomolangma (also known as Mount Everest) Thursday morning.

The 24 members of the expedition will be divided into five groups which are separately engaged in studying atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, glaciers, biology and environment and the geology of Mount Qomolangma and neighboring areas. They average 30 years of age.

Kang Shichang, head of the expedition, said its goal is to study how the atmosphere, glaciers, bio-diversity and environment of the Mount Qomolangma area has responded to global warming.

The expedition is scheduled to be completed on June 21 this year.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2005)