France's tallest mountain Mont Blanc has shrunk by over two metres in height over the past two years
The Alpine peak now is measured at 4,805.59 metres
The 2.22-metre (7.28 feet) decline could be down to lower precipitation during summer, said Jean des Garets, chief geometer in the Haute-Savoie department of southeastern France
The mountain's rocky peak measures 4,792 metres above sea level, but it's thick covering of ice and snow varies in height from year to year depending on wind and weather
Garets said, they are gathering the data for future generations and leave the interpretation of the incident to the scientists
Researchers have been measuring it every two years since 2001, hoping to garner information about the impact of climate change on the Alps
Around 20 people scaled the mountain in mid-September to carry out measurements over several days, divided into eight parties equipped with high-tech tools and a drone
The summit is constantly changing in altitude and position, with changes of up to five metres