Mount Blanc is shrinking. The highest peak in Europe has lost height
8:07 PM EDT, October 7, 2023
Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, stands at 15,774.79 feet above sea level. This was data presented by a group of experts from Upper Savoy, who have been conducting its measurements for two decades. According to them, the Alpine peak has lost as much as 7.28 feet in height over the course of two years.
A group of about 20 specialists challenged the highest peak in Europe in September. Equipped with precise measurement tools, they climbed Mont Blanc. For the first time, they planned to use a drone to confirm the height of the famous "roof of the Alps" and conduct studies on local climate changes. In a few days, they found out that Mont Blanc is not as tall anymore.
The height of Mont Blanc
The height of Mont Blanc has been changing for centuries, mainly due to changes in the thickness of the ice cover, which covers the peak. The thickness of the ice cover changes depending on the time of the year, the amount of precipitation, and the strength of the wind.
In 2021, the height of the "roof of the Alps" was 15775.56 feet, which means it was almost about 3.281 feet lower compared to the measurement made in 2017. The highest recorded height was made in 2007 - 15781.76 feet.
Experts on the measurement results of Mont Blanc
Denis Borel, one of the team members, called for "humility" and refraining from rash conclusions. The measurements have just been carried out and require further observation.
During the conference on Thursday, scientists announced that they will now be analyzing the collected data. Climatologists, glaciologists and other Earth researchers will examine it. Only then will it be possible to formulate reliable hypotheses regarding the causes of such low measurement results of Mont Blanc's peak.
From the data collected so far, it appears that alpine glaciers are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures due to their low altitude above sea level. From 2000 to 2020, they lost about one third of their volume. Mount Blanc is also an alpine glacier, but whether there are other phenomena occurring there still needs to be determined.
