How High is Mont Blanc?
Mont Blanc's height will be checked once again this year
Every two years the exact height of Mont Blanc is checked using very accurate GPS systems to help test the precision of the equipment and also to contribute in helping the scientific community provide answers to questions regarding variations in climate.
First measured by GPS in 2002 by the IGN and expert surveyors Leica Geosystems it measured in at 4,807.40m.
Regular measurements of the summit of Mont Blanc provide glaciologists, geographers, nivologists (snow experts) and meteorologists with data on the variations of a glacier at its source. It's last measurement was in 2013 and it stood at 4,810.06m.
Since the heatwave of 2003, where it was measured again at an elevation of 4,808.45m, it has been measured every two years in September. Although it has been moving up and down over the past decade it has not dropped below 4,807. With the new measurement being recorded this week we will know the exact height of 'the roof of Europe' once again.
After experiencing one of the hottest summers for a long time maybe it could drop below the 4,807m mark. Find out next week...
*Update: Mont Blanc's height has been announced as 4,808.73m*
