Nestled in the remote heights of the Ariège national park along the French-Spanish border, the Arcouzan glacier is one of the Pyrenees’ most unique and isolated ice masses.
Standing between 2,320 and 2,520 meters, this relatively low glacier with its distinct funnel shape was first scaled by mountaineer Jean Pierre Pages in 1808.
With glaciers and ice caps melting rapidly across the globe, curiously the Arcouzan glacier appeared to be bucking the trend. Evidence from 2005 to 2018 indicated that the glacier had in fact grown in size, puzzling researchers as to why it was behaving in such an exceptional way. In response, a team recently set out to unravel the mystery and clarify the glacier’s true state. Working alongside TERIA, as well as scientists and academics at the site, Topcon was called upon to provide geospatial technology that would assess the glacier’s movements and solve the riddle of its supposed growth.
Equipment that delivers
The team’s first priority was to secure an accurate overview of the glacier’s movements and activity to check the validity of previous research. The harsh, unpredictable weather at this altitude presented a significant challenge, requiring robust, highly precise technology capable of performing in extreme conditions. Topcon’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), a proven pioneer in GNSS tracking and positioning, was chosen for the task. Thanks to its Universal Tracking Channels technology, the system leveraged satellite constellations from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, to provide a complete overview of the glacier and its movements.
Topcon account manager Jasper Vos explained: “This full-constellation service ensured that the data was as accurate and reliable as possible, even under the harshest of environmental conditions, allowing scientists to track changes with unmatched precision.”
To support the work, the Topcon GLS-2200 3D laser scanner and FC-5000 Field Notebook, paired with TERIA PYX receivers, were deployed. The GLS-2200 simplified complex scanning processes, capturing intricate surface details with a 200-meter range and HDR imaging for superior 3D model rendering. This made it ideal for high-pressure and time-critical glacial monitoring. Complementing the scanning equipment, the Topcon FC-500 Field Notebook was chosen for its rugged build and ease of use in the harsh mountain terrain. Its seven-inch screen remained bright and readable even under direct alpine sunlight, while its waterproof, scratch-resistant design ensured durability amid the volatile conditions of high-altitude glacial research.
“Together, these technologies provided the precision and reliability the team needed to capture accurate data in one of the most extreme environments,” added Jasper.
Identifying and addressing ecological change
Following three days of intensive fieldwork, the team’s findings told a very different story from earlier reports. Topcon’s GNSS technology revealed that the Arcouzan glacier had not been growing; it had been shrinking. The glacier had lost 3.9 meters of water blade between 2021 and 2023, largely due to reduced snowfall and increasing temperatures in the region. This new data decisively refuted previous research, highlighting the glacier’s vulnerability to the ongoing effects of climate change.
The accurate, real-time measurements provided by Topcon technology left no room for doubt: the glacier’s surface area and thickness are diminishing at an alarming rate. Glacial change is widely recognized as one of the most visible and immediate indicators of global climate shifts, and Arcouzan’s initial resilience, followed by rapid decline, mirrors larger environmental changes occurring across the Pyrenees and beyond. This provides critical information, not only for scientists but also for policymakers as they strategize responses to climate change.
Having spent three days on the glacier, Jasper described the experience of working in the Pyrenees: “These remote and truly quiet mountains of the Pyrenees are one of the last wildernesses of Europe. They have so much to teach us if we are prepared to listen. Spending time there and seeing the effects these environmental changes are having on the planet is a moving experience. I just hope that our research can have an effect and help to cut through any apathy that still exists around climate change.”
Reflecting on the role that technology can play in addressing the climate emergency, Michael Gomes, vice president of global sustainability at Topcon, emphasized the broader implications of this work: “This project is a prime example of how precision technology can be used to measure and understand the impacts of climate change. By creating accurate data layers, we are contributing to the documentation of ecological change, which supports global sustainability efforts like SDG #15 – Life on Land. The transparency and accuracy provided by Topcon systems are indispensable tools for scientists and the broader global community as we grapple with the realities of climate change.”
The Arcouzan Glacier is not an isolated case. From rising sea levels to altered weather patterns, the effects of glacial melt extend well beyond local environments. Topcon’s involvement in the Arcouzan project not only solved a scientific mystery, but also demonstrated the essential role of cutting-edge technology in understanding and addressing climate change. As glaciers continue to retreat, the data provided by advanced systems like GNSS will be vital for both monitoring these changes and informing strategies to mitigate their impact.
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