Due to currently planned global climate protection measures! (as of the end of 2022), the annual average temperature in the Alpine! region will most likely increase by at least another 2 °C by the end of the century. Part of this change is already certain and is caused! by our past greenhouse gas emissions. Every additional future! emission will further heat up the climate.
As the expert forum “Climate.Snow.Sport” with representatives from Germany, Austria and Switzerland shows in its position paper, this has far-reaching consequences for snow tourism in the Alps.
Natural fluctuations and long-term trend
When analyzing snow data, it is important to distinguish between natural fluctuations!s – but in the long term the snow cover in low and medium! altitudes below about 1500 meters above sea level will decrease. This development is already visible in Switzerland! in measurements over the last few decades and is also clearly evident! in the calculations of current regional climate models for the future.
Time series from 1961 to 2021 of the number of snow days! per for the stations Zurich/Fluntern, Davos, Geneva/Cointrin and Locarno/Monti.
Development of the number of snow days per year at four selected locations in Switzerland. A snow day! is defined as a day with a snow cover of! more than 1 cm. (MeteoSwiss)
Maps of the average number of snowfall days per year for the periods 1981-2010 and 2070-2099.
Average annual number of days with fresh snow in peru phone number library Switzerland in today’s climate (left) and towards the end of the century assuming continued increases in global greenhouse gas emissions (right). A day with fresh snow is defined as a day with at least 1 mm of precipitation in the form of snow. (MeteoSwiss)
More rain – uncertainty about snowmaking increases
In addition to the expected future warming, changes in precipitation may also play a role.
CH2018 Climate Scenarios for Switzerland
and
latest Alpine-wide scenarios
robust signals of an increase in winter precipitation in the Alpine region and an intensification of short-term precipitation extremes and thus also of heavier individual snowfalls. Over the course of an entire winter season and across large parts of the Alpine region, however, warming dominates, so that at least at low and medium constantly sending emails to these addresses altitudes less and less snow will fall in the long term. The uncertainty as to whether a snow cover suitable for snow awb directory sports can be maintained throughout the entire season, even with the support of technical means (snowmaking, snow farming), is therefore increasing.
Strategic approaches and recommendations
Based on this knowledge base, the expert forum “Climate.Snow.Sport” sees some key points for the winter sports industry to actively address the challenges of climate change.
