Despite exceptional snowfall, the White Glacier is melting

© Écrins National Park

– Hautes-Alpes –

The White Glacier continues to melt in the Hautes-Alpes. Located in the Écrins National Park, in the town of Vallouise-Pelvoux, it is one of the most emblematic glaciers in the region. But surveys carried out by the Park show that despite the exceptional snowfall last winter, the melting of the glacier still took place this year.

This is a loss of ice which is “estimated at 0.39 meters of water”

However, last winter saw exceptional snowfall. In spring 2024, it represents the second record year in 25 years, with heights around 9 meters. An “exceptional” stock of snow which will not have been enough to stop the loss of mass, systematic for ten years, of the glacier” specifies the Écrins National Park.

LAre episodes of Sahara sand involved?

One of the reasons for this rapid melting of the mantle lies in the multiplication this year of episodes of sand from the Sahara. Park agents noted numerous contributions between February 15 and June 20. A Saharan sand which increased the absorption of solar radiation and thus the speed of melting. Without these layers of sand, “the glacier would certainly have retained a snow cover until the beginning of autumn, which would have allowed it to benefit from a balance close to balance or even in surplus”. Positive point despite everything, the exceptional snowfall of the winter made it possible to limit the loss of mass. 2024 constitutes one of the least deficit balance sheets. The front of the glacier is now at an altitude of 2,600 meters with a retreat for the year which is estimated at 16 meters.

A. Vallauri