Global Warming Could Rob Ski Resorts of Snow-Study

Reuters ^ | Tue, Dec 02, 2003

[presidio9]

TURIN (Reuters) - Picture-postcard villages nestling in Alpine valleys may be left bare of snow and robbed of the winter tourism that keeps them going as global warming strengthens its grip, new research showed Tuesday.

Global temperatures are expected to rise by up to three degrees Celsius in the next 50 years, melting glaciers, raising the snow line up mountains and crippling the ski industry, according to the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP) study.

"The temperature changes will be more violent in the northern hemisphere during winter, so ski resorts are seriously at risk," said Rolf Burki, who carried out the research.

Slopes above 3,900 ft are now considered viable ski areas but, according to the report, in 30 to 50 years skiers will have to trek to altitudes of 4,900 to 5,900 ft.

And even up there, resorts will not be out of global warming's reach.

Environmentalists say Alpine glaciers and permafrost -- frozen soil -- could melt entirely by the end of the century if temperatures keep rising, making resorts more vulnerable to landslides.

Some scenarios suggest global warming could increase snow fall above 6,600 ft. Without a solid base of permafrost, that could raise the risk of avalanches, Burki told a conference that coincided with a major environmental meeting in Milan.

COSTLY BUSINESS

Most top Alpine resorts are high in the mountains but smaller, lower villages that depend on tourism for survival are already seeing global warming wreak havoc on winter sports.

Banks have stopped lending to Swiss resorts below 4,900 ft, worried they will never get their money from ski fields that will have to invest millions in snow-making equipment to stay viable over the next decade, Burki said.

About a third of Switzerland's resorts, mostly small fields where children learn to ski, are already struggling to survive.

Some top resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo in eastern Italy or Austria's Kitzbuhel are dotted with barrels blowing snow onto the lower slopes so people can ski back to town.

But the cost of snow-making is too high for any but the richest resorts.

Laying the infrastructure of water pipes and turbines to make a 0.6 mile-long slope costs about $600,000. Puffing snow out of the system costs another $36,000 a year, said Burki, who researches economic geography at the University of Zurich.

"Man is clever at creating technology to substitute nature but it only goes halfway," said Klaus Toepfer, executive director of UNEP.

"Unless tough decisions are taken about global warming -- from politicians to ski resorts themselves polluting less -- skiing will look very different to future generations than it does now." ($1=.8371 Euro)

[nuconvert]

You posted this so we could all have a good laugh, right?

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[facedown]

U.N. Environment Program (UNEP)

The usual suspects.

[doodad]

So we will build golf courses.

[anobjectivist]

This just in:

The earth's climate has never been constant

Wait, we have more breaking news on the wire, hold on

Apparently, there was a warmer period in earth's history when creatures called "dinosaurs" lived. Growing data suggests a huge reduction in average global temperature called "ice age" was a result of whatever killed the dinosaurs, and the earth has been gradually warming ever since.

Wait, there is more. Accurate information on average global temperature is nonexistant except for a short period of time, and humans as of yet do not understand solar cycles, as the sun has only been studied long enough to observe a handful of cycles.

[RightWhale]

Winter Olympics, Innsbruck, Austria, what year, '64? No snow, not enough snow. Snow brought in by truck. So what's new?

[finnman69]

Awwwwwwwww, they can't ski all the way back to town. That's it, lets eliminate the combustion engine now.

[presidio9]

Awwwwwwwww, they can't ski all the way back to town. That's it, lets eliminate the combustion engine now.

Look, just because you don't lie awake at night worrying about the fate of European ski resort owners, it doesn't mean none of us do...

[finnman69]

I can't live with myself as Frogge Le Pew and his socialist family are deproved of their 4 week ski trip. I'm taking up a collection jar.LOL

[spokanite]

Many ski resorts in our area had a hard time opening up by Christmas last year, but this year they all opened up a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. They're not complaining about global warming!

[alaskanfan]

Global temperatures are expected to rise by up to three degrees Celsius in the next 50 years,

You folks in the lower fourty-eight need to start buying more SUVs, and driving everywhere. Fifty years is to long to wait for a possible 3 degree raise in temperature. -20 here this morning.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Is it too late to get a patent for inline skis, with little wheels, like those inline skates ? Or is it too early into global warming to be thinking this way?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Vinnie]

About a third of Switzerland's resorts, mostly small fields where children learn to ski, are already struggling to survive.

Women and children hurt most.

[William McKinley]

Howard Dean will fix this! He wouldn't let his ski resorts suffer!

[presidio9]

Women and children hurt most.

What did Bush know, and when did he know it?

[Old Professer]

There are no ski slopes below 3,900 feet; too damn many deciduous trees and scrub brush.

[byteback]

Those Soviets may have been right after all to build up in Siberia.

[RightWhale]

40 below today. -41 on the bank clock. Square tires, real deal.