One sector that is likely to suffer the most from Global warming is skiing. Europe’s ski resorts, account for two-thirds of the worldwide skiing market. Europe skiing industry attracts 80 million tourists a year.
This time Alpine ski resorts are experiencing the warmest weather in 1,300 years. Cycle of weather seems to have changed the slopes, flowers boom where flakes should fall.
With almost no snow these resorts are at their wits end and are trying to get bookings on the basis of spa’s, Christmas markets, Nordic walking and curling
Banks in Switzerland are already refusing to lend money to ski resorts below an altitude of 1,500 meters, or 5,000 feet.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report said ski resorts in Germany were most at risk of becoming unviable in the future.
It said areas of the Austrian and Italian Alps were the next most vulnerable, followed by some slopes in France and Switzerland.
The OECD’s study covered 666 Alpine slopes. It found that at present 90% of the 666 slopes had enough snow cover for 100 days or more each year. however just a one-degree centigrade rise in average temperature would reduce this to 500 viable slopes.
What can be done?
‘ Make snow by snow machines yet again long term snow making by machines is environmentally damaging, it can’t work beyond a certain temperature.
‘ It also found that plastic sheeting could protect glaciers but this will just delay the process of retreating glaciers.
‘ Get skiers to practice with a thin cover of powder.
‘ Shifting from carbon-based fossil fuels to alternative energy source to reduce global warming.
If current climate changes continue and the scientists are right, then winter skiing at low level resorts could become a thing of the past. Do you have any ideas?
Via: Guardian Unlimited
