Glaciers are disappearing due to climate change

Glaciers are melting at an increasing rate due to global warming, leading to changes in how they are represented on maps. This has prompted the National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN) in France to update its maps to reflect the disappearance of glaciers.

Map updates reflect glacier names and status

In the Mercantour National Park in Alpes-Maritimes, the Blanc glacier, once a major feature, is now marked as "Ancien glacier de la Blanche" on hiking maps. The name is now in black rather than blue, indicating that the glacier is no longer present.

Multiple glaciers are being renamed on maps

The IGN is updating the names of several glaciers across its maps, including "Ancien glacier Rampant," "Ancien glacier du Lac," "Ancien glacier de Chanteloube," and "Ancien glacier du Peyron." These changes are part of the IGN's Top 25 map revisions, which are updated every five years or as needed, such as after the 2024 floods in La Bérarde, Isère.

Top 25 maps are essential for outdoor activities

The IGN's Top 25 maps, known for their blue covers, are widely used by hikers, skiers, and mountaineers. They provide detailed terrain information, including altitude, slope, ice, and snow, using advanced Lidar technology to model the landscape with high precision.

Glacier names change when ice is no longer present

The IGN's main concern is user safety rather than preserving the historical memory of glaciers. When a glacier is no longer present, its name is changed to "Ancien glacier de..." and marked in black. This change occurs when it is determined that there is no longer any ice present.

Efforts to document glacial changes continue

The IGN is working to document the retreat of glaciers through tools like the Remonter le temps website, which allows users to compare aerial photos and historical maps. The IGN also publishes an annual Atlas of the Anthropocene since 2022, documenting ecological changes. Similar efforts are underway in Switzerland, where researchers are mapping the effects of climate change on glaciers.