Weather forecasting in mountainous regions
Gilles Brunot, director of Météo-France’s Chamonix office was at CREA Mont-Blanc last week for our third Science Sandwich of the year. His presentation helped us understand a little more about what goes into... READ MORE
Towards a greener Mont Blanc
With its sweeping glaciers and granite spires, the Mont-Blanc massif is often depicted as a symbol of the high-mountain environment, a frozen realm devoid of life. And yet, as the climate in the... READ MORE
The relationship between mountain sports and emblematic wildlife
At CREA Mont-Blanc’s last Science Sandwich, Léna Gruas presented the initial results of her PhD on the interactions between recreational mountain users and emblematic fauna. Her multidisciplinary study combines sociology and ecology, and... READ MORE
What is it like to participate in the Phénoclim program? A volunteer observer gives his feedback
“It only takes a few minutes a week….It’s simple. And it brings a little joy.” Patrick has been participating in the Phénoclim program for a year, and agreed to give us some feedback... READ MORE
High-elevation plants and unexpected adaptability
At CREA-Mont-Blanc’s last Science Sandwich, Christophe Randin, ecologist at the Université de Lausanne and curator at the Vaud Canton’s Museum and Botanical Gardens, presented the Alp’s “warrior” plants and their impressive capacity for... READ MORE
Science Sandwich – 2019 Program
CREA Mont-Blanc has launched a series of scientific seminars open to the public. One Tuesday per month, you are invited to the Mont Blanc Observatory, home of CREA Mont-Blanc, to meet researchers studying... READ MORE
Do you see what I see? Interobserver variability in citizen science
Participants in CREA Mont-Blanc’s citizen science program Phénoclim make repeat observations of tree phenology. To help us study whether or not our data is reliable, it is useful to know if two volunteer... READ MORE
Franklin University Switzerland visit: a study in contrasts
During their October visit to Chamonix during their “Climate Change in the Alps” course, Franklin University Switzerland students got to experience firsthand how quickly conditions can change in mountain environments. The sun sets... READ MORE
Field Notes: Reflections on Climate Science in Chamonix
Why bring American students to Chamonix to study climate change? Justine Sulia, a student from the University of Wyoming’s Haub School shares her reflections on her experience this summer during CREA Mont-Blanc’s inaugural... READ MORE
Spring 2018 Assessment
Warm year or cold year? Shifts in phenological events? How does flora adapt to a changing climate, season after season? In spring and fall, CREA Mont-Blanc researchers analyse the citizen science observations from... READ MORE
July Science Sandwich: Zero Waste and the power of student campus initiatives
In July, CREA Mont-Blanc hosted Professor Courtney Carlson and a group of her students from the University of Wyoming’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources for a science-based study abroad experience. The... READ MORE
Climate Science in Chamonix study abroad experience
This Thursday morning, the CREA Mont-Blanc team welcomed the first group of American university students participating in the Climate Science in Chamonix program. Twelve students from the University of Wyoming’s Haub School of... READ MORE
Reliability of citizen science data: taking the debate to the European stage
Are citizen science data reliable? This recurring question was the subject of one of the sessions at the international European Citizen Science Association conference which took place in Geneva from June 3rd through... READ MORE
2017 : A Successful Year for CREA Mont-Blanc
As spring weather was beginning to get a foothold in the Chamonix Valley, the CREA Mont-Blanc was joined by members, partners and friends for its annual meeting at the Mont-Blanc Base Camp. Around... READ MORE
Climate in the Alps: past, present and future
It’s Paleoclimatology Tuesday! Our last Science Sandwich was focused again on climate, but this time exploring how scientists can use the climate of the past to help them predict the climate in the... READ MORE
Snow and precipitation in Chamonix: reporting on an exceptional winter season
In the Mont-Blanc massif, 2018 winter precipitation levels have exceeded the 1981-2010 average levels by 45%. PhD in climatology at the Université de Neuchâtel and contributing researcher at CREA Mont-Blanc, Geoffrey Klein reports... READ MORE
Climate change and dormancy periods in trees
In her recently published article, Daphné Asse, a PhD student with CREA Mont-Blanc explores the climate change and phenology in 5 tree species in the French Alps. Read on to learn what dormancy... READ MORE
Science Sandwich – 2018 program
CREA Mont-Blanc has launched a series of scientific seminars open to the public. On the third Tuesday of every month this year, you are invited to the Mont Blanc Observatory, home of CREA... READ MORE
The future looks bleak for the rock ptarmigan in the Alps
Long considered a symbol of the harsh alpine environment, the rock ptarmigan risks to lose more than 90% of its habitat in the Alps by the year 2090. Read on to learn about... READ MORE
Winter makes a grand entrance in Chamonix
After a particularly dry fall, winter 2017-2018 is off to an impressive start in the Chamonix Valley with more than half a meter of fresh snow on the ground in early December. Should... READ MORE