Jacob Brown
As winter sports enthusiasts revel in this season’s mountainous landscapes, a sobering study warns of a grim future for skiing and snowboarding, attributing the decline in snowfall to the climate crisis.
Economic Toll of Declining Snowfall:
The US ski industry has suffered staggering losses exceeding $5 billion in the past two decades due to diminishing snowfall patterns due to human-induced global heating.
The study highlights the financial strain on resorts, primarily stemming from shortened ski seasons and the escalating costs of snow production.
Irreversible Shift in Seasons:
Researchers, led by Daniel Scott from the University of Waterloo and colleagues from the University of Innsbruck, caution that the heyday of abundant snowfall is a relic of the past.
The evolving climate reality signals a profound shift in the ski industry as warmer temperatures increasingly transform precipitation into rain rather than snow.
Unusually warm winters across Europe and the US have underscored the mounting challenges facing ski resorts. Mountains once blanketed in snow now stand bare, posing a threat to winter sports and jeopardizing vital water reservoirs essential for spring runoff.
Ongoing Decline and Future Projections:
Comparing data from the 1960s and 1970s with the past two decades, researchers note a significant reduction in ski seasons, a trend projected to worsen as global temperatures continue to rise.
Even under optimistic scenarios with emissions reductions, ski seasons are expected to shorten by 14 to 33 days by the 2050s.
The study underscores the urgent need for countries to fulfill their Paris Climate Agreement commitments and limit global warming to below two °C (3.6°F).
Failure to do so could result in losing up to two months of ski-friendly conditions by mid-century, exacerbating the already bleak outlook for the industry.
