In September 2023, Topcon and TERIA＊ jointly supported the investigation of the Arcouzan Glacier, located in the central part of the Pyrenees Mountains on the Spain-France border.

The Arcouzan Glacier has played a crucial role in understanding the impacts of climate change due to its geographical and topographical conditions. The northeast face of the glacier receives no sunlight throughout the year, and snowfall from Mount Montvallier accumulates in winter, resulting in minimal melting and reduced sensitivity to temperature increases. In fact, previous measurements indicated that between 2005 and 2018, the glacier’s surface area increased, making it an exceptional case compared to the global trend of glacier reduction.

To elucidate the impacts of climate change on the Earth, experts from various fields, including surveyors, national park guides, and scientists, participated in this activity. In high-altitude surveys, equipment used for the investigation needed to be robust, operable, and precise despite the harsh environment. Topcon products, such as the 3D Laser Scanner GLS-2200, met the expectations and provided new findings based on the survey results.

The investigation revealed that the Arcouzan Glacier is melting and shrinking, proving that it is affected by climate change more than previously expected. Since 2016, rising summer temperatures and decreasing winter precipitation have led to a significant reduction in both the glacier’s volume and surface area, with the glacier’s thickness decreasing by 3.9 meters in recent years. These findings challenge the numerical assumptions made previously.

Glacier research is proving to be a crucial indicator of the extent of climate change and is expected to support future studies of the Earth’s environment.

Topcon contributes to the achievement of the SDGs, the development of a sustainable society, and the enhancement of people’s quality of life through its business activities in the fields of “health,” “food,” and “housing.”

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Notes * A French technology company providing geospatial data and GNSS technology solutions.

■　Sustainability Initiatives of Topcon Positioning France：www.topconpositioning.com/company/sustainability

■　Listening to the whispering ice of Arcouzan : www.topconpositioning.com/articles/listening-to-the-whispering-ice-of-arcouzan