How is Climate Change Affecting the Alps?

 by Liberty Mitchell Brock

The ski industry in the Alps is huge. Alpine skiing brings $33 billion annually to the region, which local economies rely on for support. Due to global warming, the snow is disappearing, and is instead being replaced by vegetation. We have already had 1 degree of warming since pre industrial times, and we’re on the trajectory to even more. Every ski area is affected differently by this warming, but in general, climate change is having negative impacts on the ski industry in the Alps, and it's only going to get worse. 

There are five IPCC report scenarios, they range from best case scenarios to severe cases resulting in a tipping point with irreversible implications. Each scenario will have a different level of effect on the Alps, but each of them will be negative for the ski industry. It is predicted that half of the mass of all of the 5,000 glaciers in the Alps will have melted by 2050. This rapid rate of shrinking will cause positive feedback to occur. This is because glaciers reflect solar energy due to the bright surfaces, but when those areas get smaller, less of the sun’s rays can be reflected back, and instead they are absorbed. This in turn heats the planet up faster, causing more of the ice to melt. Not only are the glaciers retreating, but the snow line is also moving up the slope due to the rain/snow limit rising. There has been an increase in heavy rainfall around the Alps which results in the snow arriving later than it used to. Resorts are threatened with not being able to open before christmas, one of their busiest periods, this will create substantial losses economically for these areas. 

Climate change in the Alps is directly affecting ecosystems and the biodiversity of the area. It is happening twice as quickly in the Alps than the average for the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. In the Alps there are lots of different microclimates, with every 100m elevation gained the temperature drops by 0.6 degrees celsius. When you consider the different slope angles, and different bedrock materials as well you begin to understand the complexities of these ecosystems. Global warming is causing a change in distribution of species in the Alps. For example, trees are being found at 30m higher elevations every decade. This creates the opportunity of new habitats for some species. Animals have been recorded moving 100m up slope every decade. The temperature rise can leave certain species at risk of extinction as droughts can occur and some species can’t adapt as fast. Desynchronisation is when species adapt to the changing climate at different rates. An example of this is the chamois, which now must have its young earlier due to the onset of Spring moving forward 2-5 days every decade, but the plants haven’t adapted as quickly. This has led to higher mortality rates of young chamois as they don’t have sufficient food available. Although certain species have been able to adapt to the changing climate, it is unknown whether we, as humans, will be able to do the same. 

Switzerland is an example of a country that is already feeling the effect of climate change. In 2022 they had their warmest year on record. This resulted in a very green start to their ski season, with over half of their resorts only being viable due to artificial snow. There has been a decrease by 35-40% of cable car/lift usage because of the lack of snow. Local companies in Switzerland have been trying to lure in tourists by promoting other mountain related activities like mountain biking and hiking. Although snow has since arrived in Switzerland, the unusually warm temperatures and lack of snow in December shows what's in store for many Alpine regions in the future. A study by the university of Basel in  Switzerland, concluded that resorts situated below 1800-200m will have to rely heavily on artificial snow to keep their higher slopes open for 100 consecutive days, with their lower slopes being pretty much unsaveable. Artificial snow is bad for the environment. Snow cannons are energy and water intensive, to make just 2m cubed of snow, it takes 1m cubed of water. There are heated discussions to whether using artificial snow is moral, as it is only going to contribute to global warming. 

In summary, climate change is resulting in less snowfall which is causing shorter seasons. This then results in less economic activity due to less tourists and small businesses in these alpine regions to shut down. Climate change is causing a spiral of decline in the Alps.