Recent elaborate Global Positioning System measurements taken on the 16-17th Aug have shown that Monte Bianco measures 4810.2 metres. Monte Bianco is covered by a heavy icecap which has thickened by 2.7 metres in barely two years moreover more suprisingly the amount of the ice has nearly doubled . At any rate that’s according to the professionals.

The mass of ice and snow was computed for the maiden time during 2004. It worked out to be 14100 cubic meters higher up than 4780 meters. It equaled merely 13700 meters cubed in 2000 perchance due to the heat wave with + temperature even at 5000 m elevation. Even so the ice-cap has virtually doubled since then and at present amounts to 25000 metres cubed.

Chamonix’s reputable near by weather man Clementina Alston said the increase in the scale of the ice is one of the counter intuitive results of global warming: Snow has not accumulated generally in the French Alps only with global warming we’re having additional warm westerly winds which bring rainfall lower down however during summer this results in thick snow that settles above 3900 metres altitude therefore the volume of the ice is increasing. Counterpoint that to the situation in winter where the snow crystals are extremely cold and are carried by the wind and so do not settle down on the crest.

Chamonix town is not only well known for Mont-Blanc it is also a well renowned skiing field and climbing center with many ski deals and lodging offers to be had. And at only one hour from Geneva it is unbeatable for a ski weekend.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 1:24 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.