Understanding the impacts of climate change on high mountain practices: the case of the Mont Blanc massif through an interdisciplinary approach

International audienceThe intensity of the current climate change has strong consequences for high mountain tourism activities. Winter activities are currently the most studied (ski industry). However, the consequences of environmental changes are also strong in summer, as geomorphological processes are increased at high altitudes. The Mont Blanc Massif (Western Alps) is particularly favourable terrain for the development of research into these processes. Its emblematic high summits (28 of the 82 peaks > 4000 m in the Alps), its hundreds of glaciers, its particularly developed tourism with summer/winter equivalence, the practice of mountaineering, which is still very present, etc. all contribute to the interest of studying this geographical area. A lot of work has been carried out on glaciological and geomorphological issues. These studies, which concern the "physical" impact of climate change on the high mountains, are also supplemented by studies of their consequences on human societies. Amongst others, we can cite the question of the impacts on practices such as mountaineering or glacier tourism. Risk-related issues are also taken into account, with, for example, question related to the stability of infrastructures (huts, ski lifts) or the impact of glacial retreat on the formation of new, potentially dangerous lakes. Accordingly, the aims of this paper are to show the extent of the research developed on climate change in the Mont Blanc massif and how social and environmental sciences are interlinked to provide a holistic vision of the issues of this territory. As these experiments are not exactly interdisciplinary experiments, this presentation also aims to discuss the points that need to be developed in order to promote inter- and trans-disciplinary research