The Macugnaga Ephemeral lake

In June 2002, an unexpected rise in temperature caused a rapid melting of the ice of the east face of Monte Rosa, and the subsequent formation of an ephemeral lake in the Belvedere glacier.

The lake hung over the town below and the whole valley of Macugnaga Anzasca. In case there were a glacier lake outburst flood, millions of tons of water would have been poured out upon the valley.

CAE was called upon to urgently install a system to monitor the parameters of temperature and wind, crucial to harnessing the rise of the lake level and the tightness of the ice.

The system, 4 stations and 1 repeater, installed in just 4 days and in harsh conditions, enabled the Civil Protection to manage the situation while planning intervention strategies.

The water basin, which was always under constant scrutiny, found an outlet in the bowels of the overflowing glacier, without causing any damage.