Forecast predicts one in eight ski resorts will lose snow this century

The Swiss Alps have one of the highest concentrations of ski resorts in the study. Photo: Roberto Moyola/Sysaworld

One in eight skiers Regions could lose all snow by the end of the century, according to a study using climate change impact models.

Average annual snowfall is projected to occur across all regions examined in the study, from Europe to the North. and South America and New Zealand.

Between 2071 and 2100, average annual snow days are projected to decline the most in the Australian Alps, southeastern Australia by 78 percent, followed by in New Zealand's Southern Alps, by 51 percent.< /p>

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, examined the impact of climate change on annual natural snow cover in seven major ski regions.

Dr Veronica Mitterwallner, from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, said: “Climate change is negatively impacting the reliability of snow at ski resorts around the world.”

“Concerns are growing about how accessible skiing will be in the future among professional and amateur skiers, as well as in the ski industry.

“This study demonstrates significant future losses of natural snow cover at current ski resorts around the world, indicating spatial shifts in ski resorts. Distribution of areas potentially threatening high mountain ecosystems.

Ski areas are 'concentrated'

«In general, in future climates, fewer ski areas will remain snow-bearing, and therefore ski areas will be concentrated at spatially limited elevations.»< /p>

The study looked at the Alps in Central Europe; Andes in South America; Australian Alps; Japanese Alps; Southern Alps in New Zealand; The Appalachian Mountains and Rocky Mountains in North America.

They identified specific ski areas in these seven regions, with the European Alps accounting for 69 percent of these areas.

They used Chelsa, a publicly available climate database to predict annual snow days for each ski resort for the periods 2011–2040, 2041–2070, and 2071–2100 under low, high, and very high carbon scenarios.

With high emissions levels, 13 percent of ski resorts are projected to lose all natural snow cover by 2071–2100 compared to historical baselines, and 20 percent are projected to lose more than half of their snow days per year.< /p> Some resorts may have to rely on snowmaking methods in the future. Photo: effevi/iStockphoto

The Rockies are projected to have the smallest decline, at 23 percent.

Researchers say declining snowpack could prompt resorts to move or expand to less populated areas, potentially threatening alpine plants and animals. already experiencing climate-related stress.

Resorts that prefer artificial snow may rely on «technical snowmaking» methods such as artificial snow production, but the authors nonetheless predict that the economic profitability of ski resorts will decline worldwide.