Skiers Endure Warmest Winter

Unseasonably warm weather in Europe's Alps left skiers and snowboarders waiting to scratch their winter itch this year. Central europe experienced its warmest winter in 500 years and the Alps had not been so warm in over a millennium. ski resorts are suffering, as are sports enthusiasts.

Half of Switzerland's ski regions are facing a lack of snow as a result of global warming, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Europe's famous Alps didn't have enough snow for Christmas skiing in 2006, and the Swiss ski team even had to leave for canada in search of whiter pastures. The Central european winter tourism industry is suffering, and the future does not look white for an industry that depends on snow levels. The German ski industry will likely be hit the hardest by the lack of snow due to with many of its ski areas making due low lying Alpine foothills.

"A one degree Celsius increase would reduce snow by ten per cent and plus 4C would halve the number of snow-reliable slopes in Switzerland," according to a OECD report. The OECD report says lower-lying ski areas in the Bernese Oberland, central and western Switzerland were likely to be the most affected. More than 50% of the slopes in these regions would still be snow-reliable with a 300-metre rise in the snow line. The higher altitude regions in Graubnden and Valais snow line would rise 600 metres but would remain around 80% snow-reliable.

The ski industry is going green to help offset the pollution that feeds global warming. ski resorts very existence are at threat with later snowfalls and earlier snow melts. Some resorts are even attracting tourists for hiking holidays. The weather has even been too warm for snow generating machines because the snow melts as soon as it hits the ground.

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