Planpincieux Glacier

The Planpincieux Glacier (French: Glacier de Planpincieux, Italian: Ghiacciaio di Planpincieux) is a hanging glacier, located on the southern slopes of the Grandes Jorasses in the Mont Blanc massif of the Alps. It is located above the hamlet of Planpincieux, Val Ferret, in the Aosta Valley. The glacier has a length of 2.45 km (1.52 mi) and covers an area of 1.327 km2 (0.512 sq mi), and its elevation ranges from 2345 to 3660 m at a slope of 30°.[1] Thermally, it is a temperate glacier.[3]

Planpincieux Glacier
South slope of the Grandes Jorasses, with the Planpincieux Glacier on the left
Glacier's location in the Alps
TypeHanging glacier, cirque glacier,[1] temperate glacier
LocationSouthern slopes of the Mont Blanc massif
Coordinates45°51′27″N 6°58′24″E[2]
Area1.327 km2 (0.512 sq mi)[1]
Length2.45 km (1.52 mi)[1]

Over the years, several ice avalanches and glacial outburst floods have occurred that posed a threat to the hamlet of Planpincieux at the bottom of the valley.[1][4] The glacier has been closely monitored since 2013, and the registered displacement rate in the summer period varies between 30 and 50 cm per day.[3]

An acceleration in the displacement rate of the glacier occurred in September 2019, and experts warned that approximately 250,000 cubic metres of ice could break away from the glacier. On 24 September 2019, the mayor of Courmayeur ordered the closure of roads and an evacuation of the population in the risk area beneath the glacier.[5][6] The immediate danger subsided with the arrival of cooler autumn weather.

On 5 August 2020, the access roads to Val Feret were closed once again, and some 75 people were evacuated, after experts warned that some 500,000 cubic metres of the glacier could break away.[7][8]

See also
  • Portal:Alps

References
  1. "Glacier "Planpincieux"". GRIDABASE, Glacier Risks Database. SMS/Nimbus. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  2. "1" (Map). Monte Bianco - Courmayeur. 1:25,000. Carta dei sentieri (in Italian). Rimini: L'Escursionista editore. 2013.
  3. "We monitor the Planpincieux Glacier, along the Italian side of the Grandes Jorasses, Aosta Valley". irpi.cnr.it. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  4. Dematteis, Niccolo; Giordan, Daniele; Allasia, Paolo (2018). "Potential precursors of ice failures in the Planpincieux glacier". doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.14557.10724.
  5. "Climate crisis: Mont Blanc glacier risks collapsing. 250,000 cubic metres of ice could break away". ANSA. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  6. "Mont Blanc: Glacier in danger of collapse, experts warn". BBC News. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  7. "Italian homes evacuated over risk of Mont Blanc glacier collapse". The Guardian. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  8. "Mont Blanc: Glacier collapse risk forces Italy Alps evacuation". BBC News. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
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