Low and mid-altitude ski resorts have suffered from a lack of snow and many of them have had to close, with negative economic consequences.
Switzerland is recording a very unusual absence of snow in the Alps, a situation no one else can associate with climate change and which will be more obvious this year’s end as forecasts announce spring temperatures this weekend, with 12 degrees at 1500 meters high.
In cities like Basel or Genevathe thermometer will rise to 17 or 18 degrees Celsius this New Year’s weekend, after which temperatures are expected to drop, although temperatures in the first week of January remain above normal, with a slight chance of precipitation.
In the Swiss region of the prealpsbetween 1,000 and 1,500 meters above sea level, is experiencing a period that, according to long-term statistics, is one of the least snowy, he told the newspaper La Tribune de Geneva the expert from the Davos Institute for the Study of Snow and Avalanches, Christopher Marty.
A track with artificial snow in Switzerland. Photo: EFE
Because of this, low and medium altitude ski resorts suffer from a lack of snow and many of them they have had to closeresulting in a negative economic impact in one of the most visited times of the year for winter facilities.
The ski resorts that have equipment for the artificial snow They were able to keep working, but even this option requires specific weather conditions, basically not too much heat or humidity. In addition, it requires the use of artificial snow large amounts of water that the seasons have to pay.
Snow shortage in the Swiss Alps. Photo: EFE
“They just signed up three or four winters with less snow than now, and they happened not so long ago, at least over the last ten years,” said Marty.
Another disturbing fact is that the isotherm 0 -the zone or altitude with zero degrees Celsius and above which the temperature is negative and precipitation takes the form of snow- has risen by 250 meters in the past half century. 50 years ago the 0 isotherm was about 600 meters.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
