Winter sports industry cannot ignore the consequences of climate change. Over the past three decades, the picture of mountain precipitation becomes more unstable, causing that fact that the ski season has to be shorter. In 2004, the lack of snow has led to the closure of four resorts in Scotland. In the spring of 2012, a sudden thaw has led to the melting of snow in Ottawa, Canada, with the result that the resorts were closed before the end of the season. In Bolivia, the highest ski lift in the world, standing at an altitude of 5395 meters in the mountains of Chacaltaya, was closed due to the melting of glaciers in 2011. In the European Alps, the lack of snow and unpredictable wind forecast destabilized the economy of winter sports.
Experts seem to agree that the trend is likely to continue. In a 2006 UNEP warned that ski resorts in Europe, North America and Australia, located at low altitudes, had the risk because of global warming. According to forecasts, in the worst case none of Australia's ski resorts would be economically viable by 2070. The trend of melting glaciers will remain. It has been already observed in 2006 in the Alpine regions of Europe that at areas that have altitudes below 1,600 meters by 20 per cent less snow. It was bad news for the European ski industry, as many resorts in Austria, Germany and Italy, built resorts at an altitude below 1300 meters. Thawing permafrost will also increase the risk of dangerous landslides and will need to strengthen all structures such as lifts.
Losing days of ski season is a huge economic blow. The tourism industry in Switzerland is the most important source in the Alpine regions. If climate change, it will cause the closure of the resort that are built below 1,500 meters. The country will lose 37 percent of its 230 resorts. One analysis (it is commissioned by the government of the US, state of New Hampshire) has shown that the reduction in days of skiing at 10-20 percent in the ski industry (in New Hampshire) will lose from $ 42 to $ 84 million. Some ski resorts fight with economic instability by offering new services in the off-season, such as golf and paragliding. They also carry the ski runs at high altitude, often coming into conflict with wildlife protection regulations, or extend the season by using artificial snow machines.
Refenenses
Hennessy, K. J., Whetton, P. H., Walsh, K., Smith, I. N., Bathols, J. M., Hutchinson, M., Sharples, J. (2008, February 14). Climate change effects on snow conditions in main - land Australia and adaptation at ski resorts through snowmaking.
Moen, J., Fredman, P. (2016, April 16). Effects of Climate Change on Alpine Skiing in Sweden.
