Process-based simulation of snow cover evolution in ski resorts using the AMUNDSEN model: results and validation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Hanzer ◽  
Daniel Günther ◽  
Ulrich Strasser ◽  
Valentina Premier ◽  
Mattia Callegari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Future Evolution ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Temperature And Humidity ◽  
Meteorological Observations ◽  
Snow Model

<p>Snow management, i.e., snowmaking and grooming, is an integral part of modern ski resort operation. While the current snow cover distribution on the slopes is often well known thanks to the usage of advanced monitoring techniques, estimates about its future evolution are usually lacking. Management-enabled numerical snowpack models driven by meteorological forecasts can help to fill this gap. In the frame of the H2020 project PROSNOW such software tools are developed to be run on an operational basis with the aim to optimize snow management as well as the use of water and energy resources. As part of PROSNOW, model simulations for the ski resorts Seefeld and Obergurgl (both Austria) as well as Colfosco and San Vigilio (both Italy) are performed with the physically based snow model AMUNDSEN. In its particular snow management module, both socioeconomic and physical factors are considered, the former concerning the decision when, where and how much snow should be produced, and the latter considering the snowmaking conditions, i.e., how much snow can be produced in the current ambient conditions (in terms of temperature and humidity) and the given ski resort infrastructure (number and efficiency of snow guns, water availability, etc.).</p><p>In our contribution we show the implementation of snowmaking and grooming practices in the AMUNDSEN model, its adaptation to individual ski resorts, and how different potential snow management strategies are accounted for. Model results obtained using historical meteorological observations and hindcast simulations are validated against observations from numerous data sources such as Sentinel-2 snow cover maps, distributed snow depth measurements from groomers, temperature and humidity measurements from snow guns as well as water consumption recordings.</p>

scholarly journals Past changes in natural and managed snow reliability of French Alps ski resorts from 1961 to 2018

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Berard-Chenu ◽  
Hugues François ◽  
Emmanuelle George ◽  
Samuel Morin
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Climatic Impact ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
French Alps ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Lower Elevation

Abstract. Snow reliability is a key climatic impact driver for the ski tourism industry, for which there is more literature regarding future projections than past observed impacts. This study provides an assessment of past changes in natural and managed snow cover reliability from 1961 to 2018 in the French Alps. In particular, we used snowmaking investment figures to infer the evolution of snowmaking coverage at the ski resort scale for 16 ski resorts in the French Alps. We find different benefits of snow management to reduce the variability and long term decrease in snow cover reliability because of the heterogeneity of the snowmaking deployment trajectories across ski resorts. The frequency of challenging conditions for ski resort operation over the 1991–2018 period increased in November and February to April compared to the reference period 1961–1990. In general, snowmaking had a positive impact on snow reliability, especially in December to January. While for the highest elevation ski resorts, snowmaking improved snow reliability for the core of the winter season, it did not counterbalance the decreasing trend in snow cover reliability for lower elevation ski resorts and in the spring.

scholarly journals Can a snow structure model estimate snow characteristics relevant to reindeer husbandry?

Rangifer ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirpa Rasmus ◽  
Jouko Kumpula ◽  
Jukka Siitari
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
Mold Growth ◽  
Reindeer Herding ◽  
Model Estimate ◽  
Reindeer Husbandry ◽  
Meteorological Observations ◽  
Snow Model

Snow affects foraging conditions of reindeer e.g. by increasing the energy expenditures for moving and digging work or, in contrast, by making access of arboreal lichen easier. Still the studies concentrating on the role of the snow pack structure on reindeer population dynamics and reindeer management are few. We aim to find out which of the snow characteristics are relevant for reindeer in the northern boreal zone according to the experiences of reindeer herders and is this relevance seen also in reproduction rate of reindeer in this area. We also aim to validate the ability of the snow model SNOWPACK to reliably estimate the relevant snow structure characteristics. We combined meteorological observations, snow structure simulations by the model SNOWPACK and annual reports by reindeer herders during winters 1972-2010 in the Muonio reindeer herding district, northern Finland. Deep snow cover and late snow melt were the most common unfavorable conditions reported. Problematic conditions related to snow structure were icy snow and ground ice or unfrozen ground below the snow, leading to mold growth on ground vegetation. Calf production percentage was negatively correlated to the measured annual snow depth and length of the snow cover time and to the simulated snow density. Winters with icy snow could be distinguished in three out of four reported cases by SNOWPACK simulations and we could detect reliably winters with conditions favorable for mold growth. Both snow amount and also quality affects the reindeer herding and reindeer reproduction rate in northern Finland. Model SNOWPACK can relatively reliably estimate the relevant structural properties of snow. Use of snow structure models could give valuable information about grazing conditions, especially when estimating the possible effects of warming winters on reindeer populations and reindeer husbandry. Similar effects will be experienced also by other arctic and boreal species.

scholarly journals Glaciers, snow and ski tourism in Austria’s changing climate

2011 ◽  
Vol 52 (58) ◽  
pp. 89-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fischer ◽  
Marc Olefs ◽  
Jakob Abermann
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Natural Snow

AbstarctThis study illustrates the relevance of cryospheric changes for, and their impact on, ski tourism in Austria. The results of several case studies on snow reliability, snow production and mass balance in glacier ski resorts in the Ötz and Stubai valleys are summarized. Climate data from Obergurgl (1936ma.s.l.) in the Ötz valley are analyzed with respect to the amount and duration of natural snow cover and the possibility of snow production. A case study on Mittelbergferner focuses on the impacts of glacial recession on a ski resort and possible adaptation measures. From long-term glacier inventory and short-term mass-balance data, the effect of operating ski resorts on glaciers is investigated. At Obergurgl, the probability of both snow cover and snow production is >80% from December to March and decreases significantly in the months before and after this peak season. The interannual variability of snow cover and production is low during the main season and higher in other months. Year-to-year differences are larger than any long-term trend. Glacier ski resorts must adapt to shrinking glacial area and falling glacier surface. Covering the glacier with textiles reduces ablation by 60% and results in significantly less volume loss than on uncovered parts of the glacier. Neither the mass-balance comparison between groomed and ungroomed areas nor the comparison of long-term volume changes between 10 ski resort glaciers and 100 surrounding glaciers showed evidence for an impact of the operation of ski resorts on the glaciers.

Assessing the competitiveness of the resort area

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 1216-1231
Author(s):  
K.A. Nefedova ◽  
D.O. Maslakova
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Ranking Score ◽  
Comprehensive Development ◽  
Differential Methods

Subject. This article discusses the issues of development of the Krasnaya Polyana resort area. Objectives. The article aims to assess the competitive ability and attractiveness of this resort area through developing indicators. Methods. For the study, we used a comparative analysis, and factor and ranking score techniques. Results. The article offers original methods to assess the competitiveness of the ski resort area and describes possible directions to increase and improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of ski resorts. Conclusions. Comprehensive development indicators help assess the competitive ability of the ski resort area. Modified expert, sociological, rating, and differential methods contribute to the effective management of the resort area's advantages.

The future of ski resorts in the Swiss Alps: using DMDU to identify tipping points

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeid Ashraf Vaghefi ◽  
Veruska Muccione ◽  
Kees C.H. van Ginkel ◽  
Marjolijn Haasnoot
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Tipping Points ◽  
Annual Variability ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
The Future ◽  
Total Profit ◽  
Climate Uncertainty ◽  
Snow Conditions

<p>The future of ski resorts in the Swiss Alps is highly uncertain. Being dependent on snow cover conditions, winter sport tourism is highly susceptible to changes in temperature and precipitation. With the observed warming of the European Alps being well above global average warming, snow cover in Switzerland is projected to shrink at a rapid pace. Climate uncertainty originates from greenhouse gas emission trajectories (RCPs) and differences between climate models. Beyond climate uncertainty, the snow conditions are strongly subject to intra-annual variability. Series of unfavorable years have already led to the financial collapse of several low-altitude ski resorts. Such abrupt collapses with a large impact on the regional economy can be referred to as climate change induced socio-economic tipping points. To some degree, tipping points may be avoided by adaptation measures such as artificial snowmaking, although these measures are also subject to physical and economical constraints. In this study, we use a variety of exploratory modeling techniques to identify tipping points in a coupled physical-economic model applied to six representative ski resorts in the Swiss Alps. New high-resolution climate projections (CH2018) are used to represent climate uncertainty. To improve the coverage of the uncertainty space and accounting for the intra-annual variability of the climate models, a resampling technique was used to produce new climate realizations. A snow process model is used to simulate daily snow-cover in each of the ski resorts. The likelihood of survival of each resort is evaluated from the number of days with good snow conditions for skiing compared to the minimum thresholds obtained from the literature. Economically, the good snow days are translated into the total profit of ski resorts per season of operation. Multiple unfavorable years of total profit may lead to a tipping point. We use scenario discovery to identify the conditions under which these tipping points occur, and reflect on their implications for the future of snow tourism in the Swiss Alps.</p>

scholarly journals Assimilation of snow cover and snow depth into a snow model to estimate snow water equivalent and snowmelt runoff in a Himalayan catchment

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1647-1664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmy E. Stigter ◽  
Niko Wanders ◽  
Tuomo M. Saloranta ◽  
Joseph M. Shea ◽  
Marc F. P. Bierkens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kalman Filter ◽  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Climate Sensitivity ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Snowmelt Runoff ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
Snow Model

Abstract. Snow is an important component of water storage in the Himalayas. Previous snowmelt studies in the Himalayas have predominantly relied on remotely sensed snow cover. However, snow cover data provide no direct information on the actual amount of water stored in a snowpack, i.e., the snow water equivalent (SWE). Therefore, in this study remotely sensed snow cover was combined with in situ observations and a modified version of the seNorge snow model to estimate (climate sensitivity of) SWE and snowmelt runoff in the Langtang catchment in Nepal. Snow cover data from Landsat 8 and the MOD10A2 snow cover product were validated with in situ snow cover observations provided by surface temperature and snow depth measurements resulting in classification accuracies of 85.7 and 83.1 % respectively. Optimal model parameter values were obtained through data assimilation of MOD10A2 snow maps and snow depth measurements using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). Independent validations of simulated snow depth and snow cover with observations show improvement after data assimilation compared to simulations without data assimilation. The approach of modeling snow depth in a Kalman filter framework allows for data-constrained estimation of snow depth rather than snow cover alone, and this has great potential for future studies in complex terrain, especially in the Himalayas. Climate sensitivity tests with the optimized snow model revealed that snowmelt runoff increases in winter and the early melt season (December to May) and decreases during the late melt season (June to September) as a result of the earlier onset of snowmelt due to increasing temperature. At high elevation a decrease in SWE due to higher air temperature is (partly) compensated by an increase in precipitation, which emphasizes the need for accurate predictions on the changes in the spatial distribution of precipitation along with changes in temperature.

scholarly journals Revegetation of ski runs in Serbia: Case studies of Mts. Stara Planina and Divcibare

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1127-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Bjedov ◽  
R. Ristic ◽  
N. Stavretovic ◽  
V. Stevovic ◽  
B. Radic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Soil Stabilization ◽  
Erosion Control ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Seed Mixtures

Revegetation is the most sustainable method of soil stabilization at ski runs. In order to establish a stable plant community, it is recommended to use native species. However, non-native species are most often used. In this paper the revegetation of ski runs at two ski resorts is investigated: Divcibare and Stara Planina. Seven species were used for the revegetation of the ski run at the Divcibare ski resort of which six species were native. Six species were used for the revegetation of the Stara Planina ski resort, of which two species were native. It was established that the plant species used in the seed mixtures were suitable for erosion control at the investigated ski resorts.

scholarly journals THE OLVIOS, RETHIS AND INACHOS DRAINAGE SYSTEM EVOLUTION AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES INFLUNCE OF THEIR FUTURE EVOLUTION

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Th. Anagnostoudi ◽  
S. Papadopoulou ◽  
D. Ktenas ◽  
E. Gkadri ◽  
I. Pyliotis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Area ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Physical Factors ◽  
Drainage Systems ◽  
System Evolution ◽  
Corinth Gulf ◽  
Future Evolution ◽  
Tectonic Regime ◽  
Flow Element

Olvios, Rethis and Inachos Rivers are multistory drainage systems that occur in Northern Peloponnesus, and at the present day they have and a reversed, North to South, flow element. Dervenios, Skoupeikos and Fonissa Rivers are the misfit streams of Olvios and revealed as juvenile streams and discharge to the Corinth gulf. Agiorgitikos River is the misfit stream of Rethis River and Seliandros River is the juvenile stream. Asopos, Nemeas and Rachiani Rives are the misfit streams of Inachos River and they also discharge to the Corinth gulf. Asopos River characterized as re-established stream. Physical factors such as tectonic regime (active and inactive faults), lithology, erosion and distance from the source influenced the three drainage systems evolution and could be influence them also in the future. The increase of human activities both in their southern parts and in the distal parts close to the coast could be change the physical evolution of the studied drainages, producing a new wind gap in the coastal area and a lake or a lagoon backwards of the coastal area, destroying villages and towns.

scholarly journals Skin Cancer Prevalence in Outdoor Workers of Ski Resorts

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yolanda Gilaberte ◽  
Josep Manel Casanova ◽  
Ana Julia García-Malinis ◽  
Salvador Arias-Santiago ◽  
Maria Reyes García de la Fuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Solar Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Outdoor Workers ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Skin Cancers

Background. Snow reflectivity and altitude increase the exposure of ski resort workers to solar ultraviolet radiation. The aim was to assess the presence of skin cancer in ski resorts workers and compare it with other groups of outdoor workers reviewing published studies. Methods. An observational cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in the three largest ski resorts in Spain: Baqueira Beret, Lleida; Formigal, Huesca and Sierra Nevada, Granada. All outdoor workers including ski instructors were invited to participate in the study. The participants completed a validated questionnaire about sun exposure and underwent a skin examination. Results. 219 workers were included in the study (80% male; mean age 43.8 (SD 11.31) years). Actinic keratosis (AK) but no other skin cancers were detected in 32 participants (14.62%). Those with AK worked in the Southernmost ski resort, were more likely to have light colour hair, and were older and with higher photoaging grade than those without them. Conclusion. Compared to other studies, outdoor workers on ski resorts show a higher prevalence of AK than general population but a lower prevalence than other groups of outdoor workers.

Effect of Green Wall Modules on Air Temperature and Humidity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Abdo ◽  
B. P. Huynh ◽  
Vahik Avakian
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Closed Chamber ◽  
Green Wall ◽  
Active Systems ◽  
Temperature And Humidity ◽  
Air Layers ◽  
Insulation Effect

Green or living walls are active bio-filters developed to enhance air quality. Often, these walls form the base from which plants are grown; and the plant-wall system helps to remove both gaseous and particulate air pollutants. They can be classified as passive or active systems. The active systems are designed with ventilators which force air through the substrate and plant rooting system, therefore the air is purified and filtered through a bio-filtration process which also acts as a natural cooling system. Their benefits include temperature reduction, improvement of air quality and reduction of air pollution, oxygen production as well as the social and psychological wellbeing. They can produce changes in the ambient conditions (temperature and humidity) of the air layers around them which create an interesting insulation effect. The effect of green wall modules on the air temperature and on humidity is investigated in this work. A closed chamber made of acrylic sheets is used to monitor the temperature and humidity variation caused by a green wall module placed at its center. A fan positioned at the back center of the module drives air at ambient conditions and direct it into the module. Temperature and humidity are measured at different locations inside the chamber during operation for different modules with different plant species. The effect of changing the surrounding ambient conditions is also investigated.

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