13 departments in the south-east of France (including Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Ardèche, Drôme, Isère, Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Vaucluse) are still in vigilance orange heat wave according to the latest report from Météo France. With this episode of strong heat which lasts, the drought is accentuated more and more. According a daily card issued by the government86 departments are now affected by water restrictions.
Our territories are particularly affected. Some of the most famous sites (Mont Blanc, Lake Serre-Ponçon, the Gorges du Verdon, etc.) have been hit very hard. And this is especially visible from the sky. Thanks to the website Sentinel Hubhere are satellite images of these places between 2021 and 2022. A worrying comparison.
The Montagnette massif ravaged by flames
In the south, this month of July is marked by the huge forest fire in the Montagnette massif in the Bouches-du-Rhône. 1,700 hectares of vegetation were destroyed by the flames. Consequences clearly visible from the sky between July 1 and 21, 2022. At the top of the massif, the Saint-Michel de Frigolet abbey was miraculously saved by the firefighters.
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From the lowest waters in the Gorges du Verdon
In the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Gorges du Verdon are experiencing a disrupted tourist season with waters at their lowest. From a satellite, the observation is edifying at the level of the lake of Sainte-Croix. Between July 2021 and that of 2022, the famous island of Costebelle has become a peninsula accessible on foot.
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Going up the gorges, we arrive at the lake of Castillon. The situation is particularly critical in the Saint-André-les-Alpes sector where the lake is five meters below its usual level.
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Serre-Ponçon lake: areas prohibited for swimming
On the border between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Hautes-Alpes, the lake of Serre-Ponçon must also face this meteorological crisis. So much so that a prefectural decree was issued to prohibit swimming in certain sectors. The prefecture justifies this decision by “the risk of getting stuck and drowning with a significant depth at the entrance to the water”, consequences of the low level of the lake.
A low level particularly visible in the communes of Crots and Embrun.
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Glacier des Deux Alpes: summer skiing stopped on July 10
A drought that strikes everywhere even in the high mountains, even at 3,600 meters above sea level. In Isère, at the Deux Alpes glacier, the summer ski season ended on July 10. ” The glacier is an ice cap which has already retreated 35 meters and there, we have a planetary climatic event which is ravaging the whole world, explained at the beginning of the month Fabrice Boutet, general manager of SATA Group, which operates the areas of Alpe from Huez, Deux-Alpes and La Grave. In respect of what is happening, the right decision is to stop skiing, to maintain access to people who can walk there and to let this snow live quietly until the moment when we have the opportunity to rework it”.
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A few kilometers away, the Sarennes glacier, located above the resort of Alpe-d’Huez, has been one of the symbols of climate change for many years. In 2025, it will undoubtedly have disappeared. The difference in satellite images between July 2021 and 2022 is striking.
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In Tignes, the summer ski season lasted only 14 days
14 days. This is the time during which the Grande Motte glacier was open for summer skiing. The tracks were closed on July 1, one month ahead of the initial schedule. And by observing the Vanoise massif from the sky, we quickly understand why.
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Premature melting at Mont Blanc and the Mer de Glace
A prolonged drought that affects the summit of Mont Blanc. With the very high temperatures recorded from the beginning of June, the melting of the ice is premature in the high mountains, drying out certain corridors such as under the Aiguille du Goûter. Obligatory passage point of the normal route of ascent of Mont Blanc, the Couloir du Goûter is particularly prone to rock falls. A week ago, the prefecture of Haute-Savoie and the mayor of Saint-Gervais askedmountaineers to “temporarily” postpone their ascent of the roof of Western Europe.
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In June, the Mer de Glace lost 3.5 meters in thickness. And even if we do not yet have precise data for the month of July, we can easily imagine that the melting has continued. Satellite images help to get an idea.
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