The Climatological Rise in Winter Temperature- and Dewpoint-Based Thaw Events and Their Impact on Snow Depth on Mount Washington, New Hampshire

We analyze how winter thaw events (TE; T>0°C) are changing on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire using three metrics: the number of TE, number of thaw hours, and number of thaw degree-hours for temperature and dewpoint for winters from 1935-36 to 2019-20. The impact of temperature-only-TE and dewpoint-TE on snow depth are compared to quantify the different impacts of sensible-only and sensible-and-latent heating, respectively. Results reveal that temperature- and dewpoint-TE for all metrics increased at a statistically significant rate (p<0.05) over the full time periods studied for temperature (1935-1936 to 2019-2020) and dewpoint (1939-1940 to 2019-2020). Notably around 2000-2001, the positive trends increased for most variables, including dewpoint thaw degree-hours that increased by 82.11 degree-hours decade-1 during 2000-2020 – about five times faster than the 1939-2020 rate of 17.70 degree-hours decade-1. Furthermore, a clear upward shift occurred around 1990 in the lowest winter values of thaw hours and thaw degree-hours – winters now have a higher baseline amount of thaw than before 1990. Snow depth loss during dewpoint-TE (0.36 cm hr-1) occurred more than twice as fast as temperature-only-TE (0.14 cm hr-1). With winters projected to warm throughout the 21st century in the Northeastern US, it is expected that the trends in winter thaw events, and the sensible and latent energy they bring, will continue to rise and lead to more frequent winter flooding, fewer days of good quality snow for winter recreation, and changes in ecosystem function.

DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST AND RECREATION SPHERE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RISKS

. The tourism industry has proven to be the most sensitive to the pandemic. The spread of the coronavirus during 2020 shows certain geographic features. The initial development of the epidemic is geographically associated with destinations, major cities, coastal areas, winter recreation centers, tourist events. The spatial course of the pandemic shows a dependence on climatic zonation and pronounced seasons of the year, corresponds to the hierarchy of settlement systems, since this global problem is most manifested in central places. In Russia, the global geographic patterns of the spread of coronavirus are manifested. The pandemic will lead to changes in the structural and spatial organization of tourism, will serve to the accentuated development of domestic tourism in Russia, an increase in interest in interregional and intraregional travel, and the development of municipal tourism. The real possibility of the risks of large epidemics will lead the tourist infrastructure to the idea of an areal, not a pole, development. Nature-oriented types of tourism (ecological, sports, fishing, rural) and recreation outside large cities are becoming promising.

Public Parks and Sno-Parks Help Diverse Populations in California’s Central Valley Negotiate Constraints to Winter Recreation

As current racial and ethnic minority groups make up increasingly larger percentages of the U.S. population, recreation managers seek to understand their recreational needs and preferences. One area has received little attention: the winter recreation participation of non-White individuals (especially Latinxs). In this study, we sought to (1) examine demographic differences in constraints to visiting a conventional winter recreation destination, China Peak Mountain Resort (CPMR); and (2) explore winter recreation site use among demographically diverse populations in various types of public parks around CPMR in Fresno County, CA, including sno-parks (sites that provide snow-cleared parking lots with sanitation facilities and access to snow play areas, cross-country ski and snowmobile trails). Data were gathered “onsite” (n=491) at sno-parks along Highway 168 and “offsite” (n=1318) in communities across the Central Valley. Data from the two sites revealed significant differences in winter recreation constraints and site use patterns among different racial/ethnic and income groups. Racial and ethnic minorities and respondents with lower household income reported high levels of constraints to participation in winter recreation at CPMR. Overall, structural constraints were the most prominent barriers affecting visitation to CPMR. Our findings showed that all respondents were more likely to visit public lands (e.g., sno-parks) for winter recreation than CPMR. Public parks and sno-parks may provide particularly unique and valuable opportunities for Latinx residents and individuals from low-income groups who are historically underrepresented with respect to winter recreation in California’s Central Valley. Overall, our results yield two key conclusions regarding winter recreation: (1) commercial resort managers (e.g., CPMR) should seek ways to minimize existing structural and cultural barriers to visitation, thereby attracting a more diverse clientele; and (2) providers should consider public lands such as sno-parks as key alternatives for diverse residents seeking winter recreation experiences—especially non-White and lowincome populations who rarely visit private mountain resorts.

The influence of the recreational load in the winter on the forest ecosystem

Объект исследования особо охраняемая природная территория Черняевский лес , лесопарк площадью около 700 га, расположенный на территории Дзержинского и Индустриального районов города Перми. Лесопарк расположен на территории древней послеледниковой долины. Рельеф всхолмленный и представлен массивами смешанного соснового леса. В пределах парка имеются древние песчаные дюны и барханы эолового происхождения с высотами от 35 до 13 м. Цель исследования оценить степень воздействия зимнего отдыха населения на древостои сосны в условиях сосняка черничного и сосняка брусничного. Под пологом древостоев в зимний период по постоянному маршруту ежегодно прокладывается лыжная трасса протяженностью 5,8 км. Лыжная трасса пролегает по разным элементам рельефа подножие склона, склон, водораздел. Древостои представлены сосняками естественного происхождения, смешанными по составу. Возраст древостоев достигает 150 лет, относительная полнота 0,50,8, класс бонитета IIIII. По данным с 12-ти пробных площадей в сосняке черничном и сосняке брусничном дана оценка состояния подроста и подлеска, установлены структура по высоте и численность. Численность подроста достигает 1800 экз./га на контроле и экз./га на лыжной трассе. Численность подлеска от 400 до 1200 экз./га. Характеристики подроста и подлеска зависят от типа леса, элементов рельефа, толщины снежного покрова и интенсивности рекреационной нагрузки. На контроле все характеристики подроста и подлеска превышают характеристики указанных компонентов леса на лыжной трассе. Условия произрастания по лыжной трассе представлены двумя типами леса сосняк черничный (склоны и подножия склонов) и сосняк брусничный (вершины холмов). Установлено, что индекс состояния древостоев по лыжной трассе выше, чем на контроле. Доля сухостоя по лыжной трассе выше, распределение стволов по ступеням толщины различается средний диаметр древостоев на контроле больше, чем на лыжной трассе. Различия имеются и по типам леса. В наибольшей степени влияние лыжной трассы на деревья проявляется в условиях сосняка брусничного. Следовательно, зимний отдых оказывает негативное влияние на древостой, санитарное состояние этого компонента парковых сообществ на лыжной трассе ухудшается. The object of research is a specially protected natural area Chernyaevsky forest , a forest Park with an area of about 700 hectares, located on the territory of Dzerzhinsky And industrial districts of the city of Perm. The forest Park is located on the territory of the ancient post-glacial valley. The relief is hilly and represented by massifs of mixed pine forest. Within the Park there are ancient sand dunes of Aeolian origin with altitudes of from 3-5 to 13 m. the purpose of the study is to estimate the impact of winter recreation on the stands of pine in the conditions of the forest type of myrtillus and vaccinium. Under the canopy of forest stands in the winter on a permanent route annually laid ski trail length of 5.8 km. the ski trail runs on different elements of the terrain-the foot of the slope, slope, watershed. Stands are represented by pine forests of natural origin, mixed in composition. The age of stands reaches 150 years, the relative completeness of 0.50.8, the class of quality-II-III. According to data from 12 sample plots in the forest type of myrtillus and vaccinium in the evaluation of the status of undergrowth of a structure height and strength. The number of the undergrowth is 1800 ind./ha in the control and ind./ha on the piste. The number of undergrowth from 400 to 1200 individuals/ha. Characteristics of undergrowth depends on forest type, terrain, snow cover and intensity of recreational activity. On control all characteristics of undergrowth and undergrowth exceed the characteristics of these components of the forest on the ski track. Growing conditions on the piste represented by two forest types myrtillus (slopes and foot slopes) and vaccinium (tops of hills). It is established that the index of the state of stands on the ski track is higher than on the control. The share of dead wood on the ski track is higher, the distribution of trunks on the steps of thickness varies the average diameter of the stands on the control is greater than on the ski track. There are also differences in forest types. To the greatest extent, the influence of the ski track on the trees is manifested in the conditions of cowberry pine. Therefore, winter recreation has a negative impact on the forest stand, the sanitary condition of this component of Park communities on the ski track is deteriorating.

Snowmobile impacts on snowpack physical and mechanical properties

Snowmobile use is a popular form of winter recreation in Colorado, particularly on public lands. To examine the effects of differing levels of use on snowpack properties, experiments were performed at two different areas, Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat Springs and at Fraser Experimental Forest near Fraser, Colorado USA. Differences between no use and varying degrees of snowmobile use (low, medium and high) on shallow (the operational standard of 30 cm) and deeper snowpacks (120 cm) were quantified and statistically assessed using measurements of snow density, temperature, stratigraphy, hardness, and ram resistance from snow pit profiles. A simple model was explored that estimated snow density changes from snowmobile use based on experimental results. Snowpack property changes were more pronounced for thinner snow accumulations. When snowmobile use started in deeper snow conditions, there was less difference in density, hardness, and ram resistance compared to the control case of no snowmobile use. These results have implications for the management of snowmobile use in times and places of shallower snow conditions where underlying natural resources could be affected by denser and harder snowpacks.