Need Research Help: Snow areas affected by declining snow trends

[TGR420]

Not to start the debate on global warming again, but I am helping someone research North American ski areas that have closed or have significantly shorter openings as a result of numerous years of below average snowfall. Again, it is not necessary to say what caused these trends at this point. I am looking for a place that had adequate snow for a large number of years that recently trended towards inadequate snow amounts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[pbourdon]

Hey, I did a research paper for a Global Environmental Change class last semester focusing on snowfall/snowpack and NDJFM temperatures in the PNW, AK, and Sierra. My paper is a little limited, but the peer reviewed resources I used for background info are killer. I have several papers looking at trends in the western US, and I could also put you in touch with a professor at Oregon State University that helped me out a lot with my research. PM me if you're interested in what I've got.

[f2f]

go to the snow&ice page of the NOAA climatic centre and start from there:

http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/snow-and-ice/index.php

particularly the link labled "GIS historical snowfall maps".

you can also get the combined averages for most resorts for all reported years from here: http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/.../snowfall.html but that doesn't give you trends.

that's a start. i'm sure NOAA publishes the data somewhere..

edit: here it is: http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/...ata.html#daily

[TGR420]

Thanks for the above info. Does anyone have an actual resort name that has been affected? I am going to look into the above.

[Woodlandclown]

Thanks for the above info. Does anyone have an actual resort name that has been affected? I am going to look into the above.

there are a lot of closed mtns in New York State--i learned at Hickory Hill http://www.nelsap.org/articles/hickory1.html (Glens Falls, NY) and Alpine http://www.nelsap.org/ny/alpinemeadows.html (Greenfield, NY) and they are both closed now. not sure exactly why they closed--it was due to inadequate snow--but whether they always had inadequate snowfall and just couldnt keep up wth mountains that expanded their snowmaking or not, I dont know.

http://www.nelsap.org/ny/ny.html is some historical info.

[rockon]

there was a sports illustrated story about global warming ahile ago. it had dontrelle willis on the cover, stading on the mound in a flooded ballpark. the article had a sidebar that discussed the effect of global warming on ski areas, including maps. i think i may have scanned it and posted it on this site ...

[H-wood]

Not N. America, but I believe that Swiss banks will no longer finance ski resort development below a certain elevation due to climate change. The Swiss re-insurance industry (people who insure the insurance companies) have drastically changed their policies based on anticipated results of warming (floods, landslides, glacier changes, etc.)

[grskier]

there are a lot of closed mtns in New York State--i learned at Hickory Hill http://www.nelsap.org/articles/hickory1.html (Glens Falls, NY) and Alpine http://www.nelsap.org/ny/alpinemeadows.html (Greenfield, NY) and they are both closed now. not sure exactly why they closed--it was due to inadequate snow--but whether they always had inadequate snowfall and just couldnt keep up wth mountains that expanded their snowmaking or not, I dont know.

http://www.nelsap.org/ny/ny.html is some historical info.

NY used to have something like 53 ski areas, now much less, most went out of business because of the cost of running a tiny neighborhood ski area. The climate has probably added to the costs, but not that much (I'm guessing). Either way, it's all about the real estate now anyway.

[Sir Jongalot]

T minus 15 minutes to Turdy 11s flamestorm...

'Global warmingz...blah blah blah'

[Ireallyliketoski2]

Geneva Basin!

[markb]

In general, the lower the latitude and the lower the altitude, the bigger the hit. Potentially more precip in some northern/higher areas.

Check some of these on google scholar (might have to poach someone's library card)

Lazar, B. and M. Williams. 2008. “Climate Change in Western Ski Areas: Potential Changes in the Timing of Wet Avalanches and Snow Quality for the Aspen Ski Area in the Years 2030 and 2100.” Cold Regions Science and Technology 51(2008): 219-228.

Casola, J.H., J.E. Kay, A.K. Snover et al. 2005. Climate Impacts on Washington's Hydropower, Water Supply, Forests, Fish, and Agriculture. Climate Impacts Group (Center for Science in the Earth System, Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, and University of Washington, Seattle) for King County.

Nolin, A.W. and C. Daly. 2006. “Mapping ‘At Risk’ Snow in the Pacific Northwest.” Journal of Hydrometeorology 7: 1164.

Mendelsohn, R. and M. Markowski. 1999. “The Impact of Climate Change on Outdoor Recreation.” in Mendelsohn, R. and J. Neumann (eds.). The Impact of Climate Change on the United States Economy. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

Loomis, J. and J. Crespi. 1999. “Estimated Effects of Climate Change on Selected Outdoor Recreation Activities in the United States.” in Mendelsohn, R. and J. Neumann (eds.). The Impact of Climate Change on the United States Economy. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

[comish]

I was going to say what H-wood basically said. The effect is much greater on a bunch of low elevation euro resorts than any I can think of in No.Am. In my huntings though I have never found particularly good data on Euro resorts, or at least that I could read

[SkiNebraski]

Taos, didn't they have like a really shitty year a couple of years ago.

[ski_rick]

King Ridge ski resort in New Hampshire. I believe they went under after investing some money in new equipment followed by a bad snow year (1992?).

[ian9139]

Taos, didn't they have like a really shitty year a couple of years ago.

I actually spent a week there late that year, people were saying it was all time low for them and the mountain was empty. Snow quality was fine but the base was tiny and they had trouble keeping just about anything open.

What is interesting is that i recently looked at Tony Crocker's snow reports website and based on his statistics the year was horrible for Taos, but not all time low (or even in the bottom 10 I think).
His website might have some good stuff for you:
http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/main.htm

[haydukelives]

they had the most snowfall in their history last year

[beaterdit]

Summit County CO seems to be affected.

When I lived there in the early 90s A-Basin stayed open till the 4th of July every year. 100"+ plus springtime bases were routine, even at Breck. Now, A-Basin has only made the 4th like two out of the last ten years and bases more commonly seem to max out in the 70s.

[6.ways.till.sunday]

well nothing on greenland. considering the snowpack is increasing

[Al_Rouse]

Scope this out ... http://www.wildernesspress.com/produ...5&cat=0&page=1

That'll actually give you what you want, as compared to all the random stuff about the future of ski areas. Regardless, it doesn't look good for the future of the ski industry in the lower 48.

[beaterdit]

Also a couple of my childhood ski areas in southern NY and western Mass are closed, Thunder ridge, formerly Big Birch in patterson, and Brodie Irish Alps. Not sure if they closed due to low snow or just hard times.

[ex-powderbroker]

thunder ridge is still open dude.

[neckdeep]

Right now, it is old school resort towns in the Alps that feel the pinch because many of the lower ones were founded on glaciers. Those are among the quickest receding glaciers in the world. In North America, I think you will find that the resorts in the four corners area are seeing a decline in historical averages BUT note that this area has also seen periods of drought that make todays climate seem fertile. The drought that eliminated the Anasazi culture (circa 1300 a.d.) lasted over 100 years and it is thought (based upon tree rings) that the Colorado River basin received only 25% or less moisture than it currently does now. For nearly five generations, southern Colorado and New Mexico didn't have enough water to support stone age people, let alone to ski. So, how do you explain a drought like that, pre-global warming?

[bobbutts]

Try the Mid Atlantic region and southeast USA. The last couple years have featured above average snowfall for the major north-eastern resorts so the numbers are going to be tough for these.

[TGR420]

Thanks for all the input. Some good leads here.