The industry that rolls $ 70 billion a year will survive climate change?

Skiing is a popular industry that spans billions of dollars but global warming makes it difficult for ski resorts to operate neatly. What to do to deal with the change?

The industry that rolls $ 70 billion a year will survive climate change?

Climb the highest mountain, take a deep breath and slide with the skates all the downhill as the wind blows and surrounds you. In the past, skiing was considered a bourgeoisie only, but today, in a reality where flights are becoming more common, skiing is open to the masses as well. Winter is the hot season for skiing holidays and, according to estimates, the ski industry rolls around $ 70 billion annually - but what to do on a ski vacation when there is no snow?

The sinking of Venice also has a simple economic cost

More in Walla! NEWS

The tourism industry is undergoing dramatic changes

According to the World Meteorological Organization the last five years 2019-2015 will probably be considered as the hottest five years in history. Winter temperatures in the Arctic, for example, have risen by three degrees Celsius since 1990. Historical highs have been measured this summer during hot flashes in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Greenland and other European countries. In Greenland, for example, last July's heatwaves led to mass processes in half of the ice-covered area of ​​the island, with the seawater run-off caused by this mass equaling only 0.5mm in global sea level in July (with the current annual sea-level rise) Is 3.3 mm per year).

The impact of climate change is felt everywhere in the world and it is hard to ignore the real implications for people's lives. The increase in temperatures leads to sea level rise, destruction of various habitats around the world, increase in air pollution, desertification processes, water scarcity and more. All of these are affecting, among other things, the tourism industry that is undergoing dramatic changes these days.

Do corporations think that getting rid of keys is enough? They are wrong

The season has been shortened

According to the Swiss Environmental Protection Ministry, since the 1970s, glaciers in the Alps have lost an average of 1 percent of their volume each year. If this trend continues, by 2050 between 50 and 90 percent of glaciers in the Alps are expected to disappear. In addition, from 1960 until 2017, the snow season in the Alps has been shortened by 38 days and starts 12 days later and ends 26 days earlier than before.

Not only does Switzerland feel the warming, Chile also has less and less snow in the center of the Andes. Until a few decades ago, the mountain range was buried under four feet of snow each year, but in 2018, snow fell only three times, each time not more than 30 centimeters. The area where the snowfall accumulates is 10-5 percent less every decade and the thickness of the accumulated snow cover on the ground is reduced. In addition, according to a recent study, urban and industrial air pollution that reaches the peaks of the Andes and contains black soot, dust and other light-swallowing particles accelerates the warming of the snow and melting snow. Because the pollution makes the snow darker, the snow absorbs more of the sun's radiation (the albedo effect) and heats up faster.

"There is a clear trend in the shortening of the ski season due to delays in the arrival of snow and the advance of the thaw," says Professor Yoav Yair, climate researcher and dean of the School of Sustainability at the IDC Herzliya. "The shortening of the season is felt so much that many sites are forced to spread artificial snow on the slopes."

Skiing (Photo: shutterstock)

Guy skiing (Photo: shutterstock, ShutterStock)

Artificial snow

As mentioned, quite a few ski resorts are turning to creative solutions, such as artificial snow. Thanks to the activities of snowmobiles, many ski resorts manage to stay open even on days when there is not enough snow. This technology has been around since 1994, but today it is much more massive use. For example, the El Colorado ski resort in Chile has invested about $ 4 million in snowmobile purchases, and the investment is set to grow to $ 10 million over the next few years.

Not everyone is happy with the increasing use of synthetic snow. Responsible Travel's tourism company, for example, calls on resorts to say no to fake snow. According to the company, such snow production is detrimental to the environment: the snow cannons use huge amounts of water, which are taken from the water resources that should be used by both the local population and nature in the area. At the same time, snow dispersal in unnaturally extensive areas impairs biodiversity at the ski resort. In addition, it is important to note that artificial snow is more difficult than natural snow and may be more dangerous when slipping.

Snow cannon on the Hermon

And what about our snow? During the cold winter days, Mount Hermon becomes a highly sought after ski resort. "We are very concerned about global warming," says Mickey Inbar, spokeswoman for the Hermon website. "In addition to the fact that the weather becomes less suitable for skiing, in recent years we also see that cold weather does not come with rainfall. There are very cold days when it does not rain and other days when it rains because the weather is not cold enough. More about planning activities for the rest of the year. " Indeed, last year the Hermon site also imported an Italian snow cannon last year, which should take action as needed and in accordance with weather conditions.

How to get proper medical treatment without tearing your pocket?

In collaboration with Phoenix

The article was prepared by Angle - Science and Environment News Agency