A research team from the University of Basel took the Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis ski area as an example to investigate the impact of climate change on ski areas. Their results were recently published in the International Journal of Biometeorology.
According to the research, artificial snow can guarantee a 100-day ski season, at least in the higher parts of the ski area – above 1800 meters above sea level. But for business over the Christmas holidays, it’s likely to become scarce in the coming years, as it often doesn’t cool enough beforehand.
Water consumption for artificial snow will increase
“Here, the physics of technical snowmaking sets natural limits,” study author Erika Hiltbrunner said in a statement from the University of Basel. To some extent, the situation can be compensated by new snowballs, but only partially, the researchers wrote.
According to the study, water consumption for artificial snow in the Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis ski area will increase by around 80 percent by the end of the century. Therefore, in an average winter season towards the end of the century, water consumption will be around 540 million liters. 300 million liters today.
Electric or uphill?
According to the study, the water reserves of the Oberalpsee, which is used to make artificial snow, should last until the middle of the century. However, these water reserves are also used in electricity generation. According to the research, there will likely be discrepancies between the water requirement for the ski area and the water requirement for electricity generation.
It is also clear that increasing snow production will increase the costs and therefore the prices of ski holidays. “At some point, people with average incomes will no longer be able to afford these types of vacations,” Hiltbrunner says. (SDA)