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Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Pan-European meteorological and snow indicators of climate change impact on ski tourism

Samuel Morin, Raphaëlle Samacoïts, Hugues François, Carlo Maria Carmagnola, Bruno Abegg, O. Cenk Demiroglu, Marc Pons, Jean‐Michel Soubeyroux, Matthieu Lafaysse, Sam Franklin, Guy Griffiths, Debbie Kite, Anna Amacher Hoppler, Emmanuelle George, Carlo Buontempo, Samuel Almond, Ghislain Dubois, Adeline Cauchy

Climate Services · 2021

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Summary

This work presents a pan-European framework for monitoring and projecting ski resort operating conditions under climate change, addressing a documented gap in multi-scale assessment. Using statistically adjusted climate model projections coupled with process-based snow modelling (Crocus), the authors generated standardised meteorological and snow indicators across 100 m elevation bands for all European ski regions. The methodology accounts for both natural and managed snow conditions, with results accessible via a dedicated visualization platform to serve diverse stakeholder needs in the tourism and climate services sectors.

Regional applicability

The study explicitly covers Alpine, Pyrenean, Nordic, Eastern European, and Anatolian ski regions at pan-European scale, making its findings directly applicable to United Kingdom upland areas with ski facilities (Scottish Highlands). The methodology and climate scenarios (RCP2.6–8.5) are relevant to UK policy on mountain tourism adaptation and sectoral climate services.

Key measures

Snow cover duration, snowmaking feasibility, natural snowfall, operating season length derived from EURO-CORDEX climate projections and Crocus snow model outputs under RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios

Outcomes reported

The study developed pan-European meteorological and snow indicators (MTMSI) to assess past and future ski resort operating conditions under climate change scenarios. Results were generated for 100 m elevation bands across all European ski tourism regions using climate projections, snow modelling, and snow management accounting.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Modelling study with climate projections
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Europe
System type
Other
DOI
10.1016/j.cliser.2021.100215
Catalogue ID
SNmqopevma-r6oszw

Funding & declared interests

Funding: Copernicus Climate Change Services

Extracted verbatim from the paper’s funding, acknowledgements and conflict-of-interest sections — shown as neutral provenance, not a judgement on the research.

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