According to a recent study, United States ski resorts have suffered a significant financial loss of $5 billion over the course of 19 years due to the effects of climate change caused by human activity. If emission levels are not reduced, this loss is projected to continue at a rate of around $1 billion per year in the 2050s.

According to Daniel Scott, a researcher at the University of Waterloo and co-author of the study, individuals may not be concerned about the extinction of species on the opposite side of the globe or a flood occurring in a different region. However, sports are often of significant importance to people and can serve as a means of observing these alterations taking place.

Unseasonable temperatures have disrupted winter activities in North America and Europe, resulting in the cancellation of a 250-mile dog sled race in Maine, the early opening of golf courses in Minnesota, and the use of stored snow from the previous year for a ski race in Austria. Scientists attribute this to a warm and dry El Niño pattern along with the effects of global warming, bringing attention to the threat facing winter.

According to Auden Schendler, the senior vice-president of sustainability at Aspen One, who provided funding for the study published in Current Issues in Tourism, the issue at hand is not a future concern but a present one.

Using data and modeling techniques, this study depicts the predicted length of average ski seasons from 2000 to 2019 in the main ski markets of the United States: Northeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific West. This prediction is based on the assumption of no climate change. The study’s reference point is ski seasons from 1960 to 1979, a time when ski areas were mostly in operation and before significant human-caused warming was observed. The results show that, despite efforts to supplement natural snow with artificial snowmaking, the average ski season between 2000 and 2019 was still 5.5 to 7.1 days shorter.

In a positive estimation of decreasing emissions, the outlook for the ski industry in the United States would result in shorter seasons of 14 to 33 days in the 2050s, even with artificial snow-making. A scenario with high emissions would lead to a nearly two-fold increase in days lost.

Delegates at the yearly climate negotiations in December acknowledged the necessity of moving away from fossil fuels that are contributing to dangerous levels of global warming, but did not establish specific goals for achieving this. In the past year, the Earth experienced its highest temperatures ever recorded, and the trend has persisted into this year.

Scott stated that the future of the ski industry is largely dependent on the policies and actions taken to decrease emissions in the next 10 to 15 years.

The economic impact of increased snowmaking costs and lost revenue from skiers was calculated by the researchers. Scott stated that the estimates may be on the lower end and do not take into account additional expenses, such as the decrease in spending from skiers in winter sport areas.

The study was conducted by the researchers to address a lack of reliable information on the financial impact of climate change on the ski industry. They also stated that this data would be crucial in potential legal action against fossil fuel companies, citing current lawsuits by Colorado communities against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy for the expenses of adapting to climate change.

According to the researchers, the act of snowmaking is no longer sufficient to counter the effects of climate change. They also stated that most ski destinations in the United States may no longer experience peak seasons.

David Robinson, a researcher at Rutgers University and the state climatologist for New Jersey, echoed the sentiment, expressing his interest in and confidence in the study’s quality.

According to Robinson, who was not a part of the project, the snowfall will not cease. However, advancements like snowmaking will only have limited effects in areas where it is currently being practiced due to the ongoing global warming.

Rephrased: According to Julienne Stroeve, a senior scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center who was not involved in the study, the research does not consider how skiers and snowboarders might react to a reduction in snow quality. She questioned whether skiers’ behavior would adapt as unfavorable snow conditions become more common.

Scott stated that the modification in skier actions is recognized as substitutability. If skiing is unavailable or the snow conditions are poor, will individuals choose to visit a different ski location or turn to mountain biking? Scott expressed interest in researching this further.

“We would be interested in learning more about that, as it could enhance our modeling,” he remarked.

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Source: wral.com