Mount Everest may have shrunk as the result of a devastating earthquake – so a team of Nepalese surveyors is heading to the summit of the world’s tallest mountain to discover the truth.

After two years of training, the four-strong group will try to work out whether the official height of 8,848m (29,029ft) remains the same.

The peak was first measured by an Indian survey team in 1954 but the country was struck by a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015, and it is thought due to this the mountain may have shrunk.

“We are sending a team because there were questions regarding the height of Everest after the earthquake,” the expedition’s coordinator, Susheel Dangol, said.

The expedition’s leader and chief surveyor, Khim Lal Gautam, said: “It will not be easy to work in that terrain but we are confident our mission will be successful.”

Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Show all 10 1 /10 Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Jake Meyer climbed Everest, aged 21 years and four months Jake Meyer and K2 Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Team climbing at 7400m on K2 Team climbing at 7400m on K2 Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Ottalie and Poppy (with Daddy on the front page) Ottalie and Poppy (with Daddy on the front page of the Times) Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Camp 4 on K2 - 7650m Camp 4 on K2 - 7650m Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Jake on way to summit Jake on way to summit Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Climbing though the glacier Climbing though the glacier Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Jake at summit of K2 Jake at summit of K2 Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Ottalie, Jake and Saskia at Heathrow as Jake arrives home Ottalie, Jake and Saskia at Heathrow as Jake arrives home Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest K2 Summit Ridge K2 Summit Ridge Jake Meyer Jake Meyer Jake Meyer: youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest Basecamp panorama K2 on left, Broad Peak on right Basecamp panorama K2 on left, Broad Peak on right Jake Meyer Jake Meyer

The team will ascend the peak and then activate a global navigation satellite system before sending the data back to base camp.

“The observation sessions can last for about 10 minutes at the peak,” Mr Dangol said in a separate interview with The Kathmandu Post. “The device will be switched on at the peak to receive data from satellites.”

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

First conquered by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953, Everest’s official height has been disputed by surveyors from around the world.