Record-breaking temperatures in adelboden, switzerland this january have raised questions about the upcoming ski world cup. the chuenisbã¤rgli piste was approved for use, thanks to an army of snow cannons and a slight drop in temperature at the top of the run. ski resorts across the alps have had to close down their lifts due to a lack of snow, and climate experts have long warned that global warming could lead to warmer, wetter winters, making ski resorts unviable.
Record temperatures occurred in january 2021, and the ski resort of splã¼gen, located at 1,500m, has been forced to shut down until further notice. the highest resorts are still open due to the use of snow cannons pumping out artificial snow.
University of basel conducted a study which warned that higher resorts may have to increasingly rely on artificial snow to survive in the long term, raising their water consumption by up to 80%. this could trigger conflict between the winter sports industry and local communities, whose energy comes from hydropower. the study also predicts a sharp increase in skiing costs as resorts switch to ever more expensive and artificial methods to preserve their slopes. global warming is the main cause of the snow shortage, and anxiety is mounting across the alps in light of this news.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64151166?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA
