Mont Blanc: France's Tallest Peak Faces Shrinking Crisis

Researchers have found that the tallest peak in Western Europe has decreased over the past two years. Compared to 2021, Mont Blanc’s peak is now 2.22 meters lower at 4,805.59 meters (or 15,766.4 feet).

French geometer Jean des Garets attributes the decrease to less summer rainfall. Every two years, the mountain, which crosses three countries—France, Italy, and Switzerland—is measured to gauge how the Alps are being affected by climate change. In Haute-Savoie, southeastern France, where measurements began in 2001, Mr. des Garets, the principal geometer, claimed that his team has discovered a great deal about Mont Blanc. In his words, “Mont Blanc could well be much taller in two years” due to the frequent fluctuations in the summit’s altitude and location, sometimes as much as five meters.

However, this may not be the case if past measurements are any indication. According to experts, the mountain has been losing height at a rate of about 13 centimeters annually since the 2021 measurement. Mr. Des Garets remarked, “We’re gathering the information for future generations. We leave the interpretation to the scientists because that is not our job.” He cautioned against making unfounded claims and emphasized that people shouldn’t use height as a measuring tool. The 4,792-meter elevation of the rocky top of Mont Blanc is due to snow and ice at the summit, not the rocky mountain itself. The amount there is dependent on the wind and weather, and the researchers speculated that this year’s “lower precipitation,” or reduced rainfall, may have contributed to the decline.

If there had been more precipitation and less wind, a greater peak would have been recorded. Mont Blanc’s situation is causing more than just concern. Scientists recently revealed a significant sign of global warming when it was disclosed that Swiss glaciers have lost the second-largest volume annually. Last month, a group of 20 people climbed Mont Blanc to complete the measurement, which took several days. They divided into eight groups and, for the first time, utilized a drone to calculate the summit’s elevation. Small receivers were placed in the snow to simulate the ice cap at the top, which is used to calculate the height. These receivers produce a GPS signal to obtain a measurement to the nearest centimeter.

Estimates suggest that 20,000 to 30,000 people attempt to climb Mont Blanc, often referred to as “the roof of Europe,” every year. To prevent overcrowding, only 214 climbers are allowed on the most popular route up the peak each day. In 2013, a climber discovered a buried treasure containing emeralds, rubies, and sapphires on the mountain. In 2021, he received the contents of the box, valued at approximately £128,000. The peak reached its highest recorded point in 2007 at 4,810.90 meters (15,783 feet 79 inches). Due to climate change resulting from human activity, heat waves are now more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting. Since the start of the industrial period, the world has already warmed by around 1.1°C, and unless governments significantly reduce emissions, temperatures will continue to rise.