Mont Blanc, the peak of Western Europe, was measured at 4,805.59 meters in September 2023, 2.22 meters less than the previous measurement in 2021, French surveyors announced on Thursday.
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This difference could be due to summer rainfall fluctuations and has already been observed in the past, noted Jean des Garets, representative of the surveyors of the French department of Haute-Savoie, during a press conference in Chamonix.
The peak on the French-Italian border between Haute-Savoie and the Italian region of Aosta Valley could “very well be much higher in two years” when the next measurement is taken, emphasized the president of the department’s chamber of surveyors.
“We are collecting data for future generations, we are not here to interpret it, we leave that to the scientists,” he added, urging them “not to use (the measurement) to tell any story. What”.
Equipped with the most modern tools and, for the first time, a drone, around twenty people, spread over eight ropes, climbed the peak of Western Europe in mid-September to carry out point-by-point recorded measurements of the white giant over several days.
This is the 12th edition of this action, the aim of which is in particular to model the ice cap and collect scientific data on the effects of climate change on the Alps, an initiative launched in 2001.
“After these measurement campaigns, we have already learned a lot: we know that the summit is in constant motion, both in height, with fluctuations of almost five meters, and in its position,” continued Mr. des Garets.