Global Warming Poses Threat to Ski Resorts in USA Essay

The Ameri depose west is marvellous, it is large with grand landscapes and mountains reaching to the slant . The plains unfold to the horizon and the vistas present an unimaginable panorama. Just like whatsoever where else in the domain of a function, water supply is an essential subdivision to life here simply it is scarce hence creating the wests vulnerability. Precipitation is gener eachy scurvy and cannot support agriculture it is for this reason that agriculture is except(prenominal) possible done irrigation.This precipitation is not only scarce however scarcest in the passs when it is in world(a) needed yet evanesces disproportionately and mostly in the mountains in the pass. The only saving grace is that in spend it precipitates as hoodwink and stays as bamboozle packs with verboten the spend. It is on the basis of these run patterns that the winter sports tourism is established. This effort has served as the main economic hotheaded machine of the west and other other aras for decades. However, changing climatic patterns and foreign heating has emerged as a serious affright to the surviveence of the winter sports industry.Projected gains in average world-wide temperatures collectible to developments in commonalty admit gases in the atmosphere has been incriminated in widespread quick-frozen and carbon-covered cap decreases, ocean level rise and warming unless most importantly in the decrease of nose candy cover and the decrease in the duration of winter tourism. The unpredictability of the future and the clime subtle temper of winter sports tourism has led to many initiative aimed curbing the increase in green ho intent gases and consequently making snow available. creative activity Compelling evidence suggests that inter guinea pig humour has been on a advanced swop since the industrial era and is project to strain over the twenty- for the first time century and beyond. worldwide warming and clime t urn is an unequivocal phenomenon. ball-shaped mean temperature has been on the increase with an approximate increase of 0. 760 C amidst 1850-1899. the same increase has been found between 2001 and 2005. This means that global predictions of temperature feature a 90% probability (IPPC. clime Change and touristry, 2007).These increases in average temperatures atomic number 18 a direct upshot of human activities that increase the concentrations of green house gases in the atmosphere. The extent of these discernible human influences submit likewise across-the-board to other modality qualify aspects such as temperature extremes, changes in hint patterns, continental average temperatures and ocean warming. The same is applicable to the widespread glacial and white cap decreases coupled with warming of the ocean surface temperatures, the result is a sea level rise of round 1. 8mm yearly from 1961-2003 and approximately 3. 1mm yearly from 1993-2003.The answer heart of biolo gical response in ecosystems and species transitionion presents an unpleasant scenario and these statistics are recorded in virtually ein truth continent. It is projected that the probability of increase in global temperatures testament further hie green house gas emanations at the present or to a elevateder place the present rates. The prediction pushes general global temperature rise by 1. 80C -4. 00C. presumptuous that the atmospheric concentrations of green house gases are stabilized, the warming effect would shut away continue callable to the levels of green house gases from past emissions and the consequent caloric inertia of oceans.The biological response would excessively be extrapolated to future centuries nonetheless if the levels are stabilized at the present concentrations today. The discernible manifestations worldwide leave alone be hot temperature extremes, extreme heat waves, heavy precipitation, peak vacate speeds and precipitation in tropic cyclon e events and an additional heavy precipitation associated with increases in tropical sea and surface temperatures. Together with these climatic changes extra tropical storm tracks are projected to put forward towards the poles. All these changes together with the decreases in show cover ordain continue into the future.The economic and environmental risks are unfathomable and would effectively impede nations strides towards the achievements of sustainable informations. However, on that point is hope that if precautions and measures are interpreted to sign green house gases today the high cost of environmental and economic destruction and disruption can reasonably be mitigated. This calls for lifestyle changes, economic policies and regulations and international efforts that not only serve reduce the causative agents of climate change and global warming but besides foster readjustment and mitigation measures to experience the challenges of climate change.Climate change and t ourism Climate change, particularly global warming has grown to be a pivotal issue in the development and management of tourism. The human relationship between the environment, climate and tourism sector is currently a super sensitive economic matter. Climate change is increasingly driving tourism development and decision making, changing tourism destinations and even tourist tastes. Tourism sector system a non negligible contributor to climatic changes. GHG emissions from enamour and accommodation must be reduced in accordance with international standards.Tourism sector cannot address the challenges of climatic changes themselves and in isolation but they can only do this in the background of sustainable development and the broader international development agenda. Tourism and the sustainability of tourism destinations is dependent on climate variability. The length and the quality of seasons as well as destination prize and the level of tourist spending are all determined by climate change. Climate change and winter sports Winter sports constitute a very source of in stupefy and the reliability of snow is a key element in the touristic notch.Skiing and snowboarding are the most common forms of writer sports but others such as snow hiking and cross-country moveing also depends on the reliability and the availability of enough snow. Mountainous areas are always very sensitive to climate change hence less snow, melting permafrost, withdraw glaciers and extreme events such as landslides. Additionally climate change shift mountain fauna and flora. These effects pose a direct threat to go resorts in the United States. Lower earnings in winter tourism will only serve to exacerbate economic disparities that exist between the alpine regions and the more developed urban areas.These changes will also increase the risk of only traveling at high elevated up the mountain. If this was to happen there would be an intense concentration of sports activities in c ertain regions as well as further putting haul on the environmentally sensitive high mountains. The extrapolation of the effects of global warming on winter tourism extends to the viability of the mountain cable way companies that use the availability of snow as a prerequisite for their financial stability. Without snow or enough snow the profitability of the move industry is impossible.The absence of snow in the mountains will be like having a summer without a sea. The variability of the winter season with response to climate change will deny the winter sports industry the right levels of snow at the right time. These forecasts are a necessity in planning for trips at shorter notices especially the weekends (Rolf Burki et al, 2003) Studies underinterpreted in Canada, Australia, brand-new Zealand, Australia, Switzerland and the United States to establish the impact of climate change on the tourism sector show severe implications especially to the winter sports industry.While ju st about regions with high technological advances like adaptation strategies ( fake snow making) will maintain their tourism, others unable to adapt the expensive technologies will lose out. These transitions in business volumes will not only be driven by limiting snow levels but also the occurrence that skiers respond flexibility to snow conditions. During a snow poor season, 49% of skies are most likely to change to a resort that is fairly more snow reliable, 32% would reduce the frequency of go and only 4% would give up the sport.Coupled together with the fact that climate change has a direct effect on the number of ski days, those unable to adapt to expensive technologies will be disadvantaged and pushed out of business. (Rolf Burki et al, 2003). vitamin C resorts not concentrated in snow reliable high elevation areas will be forced to withdraw from the market because of change magnitude levels of snow. For transport industries that will offer access to high raising areas (sometimes high than 200m) business prospects will be good due an expected increase in move at the high altitudes.The effect of this will be quantitative expansion of the high altitude skiing resorts hence eliciting a ostracise environmentally feedback effect caused by disruption of the ecologically sensitive high altitude mountain regions. Presently, this expected expansion to high altitude areas has been the theme of many concept studies that influence the opening up of in high spirits Mountain (Breiling and Charamza, 1999) It is for these effects of climate change that during a recent drift in Portsmouth, N. H, Barrack Obama the Democratic Party presidential candidate reiterated that there is need to address the urgency of global warming on the ski industry.He said that global warming is not a future problem but a present one. This problem has made New Hampshire to have shorter sporting seasons and people are losing jobs. He further reiterated that residents of north Americ a ski areas together with their customers should work reach in hand to change their energy spending. habits and resort to green technology if they were to prevent climate caused melt-downs (Laura Bly, 2007) furbish ups have started investing in sustainable seafood practices, local food supplies, biodiesel ply snow cats and embracing the use of more energy efficient snow making equipment.To achieve this, campaigns on global warming and discounts are macrocosm offered to guests who come in hybrid cans. What is even more impressing is that resorts have taken the challenge of campaigning for these changes as well as acting as advocates for inter politicsal change. Effects of global warming have also been reported in Burlington Vt. The city is usually carpeted in December but regrettably changing climatic conditions has created a mild role where snowfall is hardscrabble just an inch thick.The temperatures are becoming warmer and fewer trails open. However, these fears have been all ayed by the optimism of the meteorological department prediction that the season will improvement as Christmas approaches. According to Michael Berry president of the National ski Areas Association, the electric potential impacts winter recreation, the mountain ecosystem and the way of life of residents in these areas cannot be ignored. globular warming has a direct and profound effect on the ski business as it depends solely on the variability of stand.To drive this butt on of change, the association has adapted a indemnity to regulate and control climate change. The reduce, well-bredize and advocate approach was adopted to help in the argue against global warming. Key in the policy is a call to ski resorts to work towards the reduction of green house gas emissions individually and collectively, educate the public and guests on the potential impacts of climate change to writer sports industry and be the advocate in pushing for institutional and regulatory changes aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions (Michael Berry, 2007).To this end almost half of the 59 ski resorts, who have purchased renewable energy credits or utilize green energy for their lifts and other facilities are 100% green ply hence reducing carbon dioxide emission by 427,596,000 pounds an equivalent of put almost 17 million trees. Customers are boost to offset their emission and work towards increasing green energy use in their home. propagation of renewable energy through on site solar projects or micro hydro power projects and wind energy has greatly increased with lever Peak Mountain Resort in Massachusetts installing the first wind turbine powered ski area in August 2007.Resort vehicle fleets are now using alternative fuels like biodiesel, they also provide or promote car pooling or mass transit use. Ski resorts are being built using green construction techniques and retrofitting existing facilities all with the aim of saving energy. Though an outreach program called rema rk Winter cool millions of people have been educated on global warming and encouraged to institute lifestyle changes to help curb global warming. Specific Impacts of Global Warming on Winter Tourism . SnowThe financial viability and stability of the winter sports tourism industry solely depends on the availability of sufficient snow. Less snow pack is caused by higher(prenominal) average temperatures, on the other hand if there are extremely low temperatures at night then it follows that there is likely to be an average increase in daytime temperatures. In both cases the resultant effect is less mountain snow cover and a reduction in the duration of cover. (Stephen Saunders et al, 2005). This means that recreation will be pint-size and the snow will be slushier.The big difference to earlier situation where snow cover was considerably reduced is that, the capital intensity of the winter sports tourism will be considerably high. When this is analyzed in the context of profits from sk i dependent businesses, taxes from local and state governments, the financial prospects of industries in the winter tourism sector look bleak. However, the most important tie-in between climate change and mountain tourism is less snow and, as a consequence, less earnings in ski tourism. GlaciersStatistics all over the world point to the fact that there is a general retreat of glacial cover all over the world. Taking Switzerland as an example, since 1850, the Swiss glaciers have lost slightly more than 25% of their surface. If this was to continue in the future, by 2030, approximately 20% to 70% of the total Swiss glacial cover will disappear. This is a real problem for the ski industry not only in Switzerland but across the world as ski tourists will resort to other countries with snow availability.The effect of this trend will be putting more pressure on the existing ski facilities as well as acting as an incentive for investment in high altitude areas. Permafrost Melting of perma frost due to global warming makes mountain areas vulnerable to landslides. Transport facilities such as the mountain cable way stations, the lift masts and buildings expire instable. Them costs incurred in bracing and anchoring such buildings when permafrost melts are extremely high.Hiking and climbing in these areas is also made more dangerous hence the loss of revenue due to potential risk of injury like rockfall or other wellness outcomes. Despite of cries over decreases in snow levels in the future, there is a possibility of winters with heavy snow like that of 1998/1999 that brought a great parcel out of losses in the winter tourism industry. The avalanche winter undo mountain cable ways, ski-lifts and chair lifts. The expenses incurred on sow clearing and the overall loss incurred was in excess of US $ 130 million.Adaptations for the future ski industry should therefore inculcate these historical weather unpredictability patterns in improving the industrys financial viabili ty. Adaptations and Strategies Used by the Tourism Industry to Mitigate Against the Impacts of Global Warming All tourism representatives at political,organizational, entrepreneurial or operational level have been in the mind in pushing for adaptation strategies to curb climate change and help mitigate the potential effects of global warming.The experiences that project what is going to come in the future are prevalent today and is widely current that snow deficient conditions will determine whether winter tourism will remain a viable economic activity. To achieve this a multi sectoral modelling that consists of the National Ski Areas Association(NSAA), Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), the federal government through the Senate Environment and Public Works, state stakeholders and other non governmental civil society organizations have developed a Climate Change policy aimed at reducing the concentrations of green house emissions.Ski resorts have been encouraged to adopt sa fe and efficient energy usage through the victimisation of renewable energy resources. It is this concerted effort in mitigating climate change challenges that also saw the support and endorsement of McCain/Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act to spearpoint the fight against global warming. Specifically these attempts will help stabilize the US$ 5 billion mountain resort industry that currently offers practice session to 165,000 people.Despite the existence of facts that predict radical effects in the industry, some argue that climate change issues are very exaggerated and politicized by science and the media. They argue that even though the effects could intensify problems in the industry, the majority of resorts in medium and high altitudes will be however affected. Discussions should yield strategies that take into cipher the accuracy of statistical data disseminated on climate change and critically analyze the potential consequences.These issues should further be analyzed with reference to the global competition in the winter tourism sector. The facts that accrue from these forums should then be integrated in the construction of artificial snow flaking facilities, extend existing ski runs. Opening of high altitude ski resorts (2000-3000m)should be guided by the potential ecological effect. Climate change should not only be viewed as a negative challenge to winter tourism but also as a catalyst to drive radical structural adjustment and change.These developments should take into account the present risks and opportunities as well as foster development that is in line with the strive for environmental and socio economic sustainability. This will create a highly competitive market where customer preference is not only driven by snow availability but by the strength of service in some very high end but smaller less extensive resorts. Such top resorts will offer attractive offers for skiing tourists and hence reduce attention on grand developments with less attractive offers.Artificial Snow making This is an ubiquitous system that is widely employed to mitigate the risk of climate change. Since its inception in 1953 at the Grossingers Resort in New York, it has grown to become the principle in the ski industry with an approximate 95% of the resorts tenanted in the strategy. Its success has mainly been driven by its invaluable splendid nature that offers a complete substitute to natural snow fall as well as making it possible to extend skiing durations(Daniel D. D. McGill, 2007).However, this technology is heavily dependent on temperature and is only effective in cases at low temperatures. Technological advances has seen the reduction of labor costs through the use of snow guns operated by computers. Snow making utilizes vast volumes of water and therefore the availability of water must be guaranteed for efficient blanketing of a large resort. Weather Derivatives. These are weather risk management tools coordinate to enable ski res orts make appropriate and informed decisions. They can be structured on snow fall temperature according to the customers specifications.Other factors that can be utilized to mitigate the effects of global warming include r4evenue diversification, cloud seeding and marketing to insulate the resorts against variability of weather by modify them to maximumly capitalize when the weather is excellent. Conclusions Climate change and global warming remains will continue to remain key challenges in the winter tourism industry especially the ski resorts. Less snow, less glaciers and extreme weather events such as landslides are the key determinants of the future viability of ski resorts.Strategies instituted to meet the challenges of climatic change and mitigate the impacts of global warming can never be successful if implemented in isolation. It is commendable fact that the skiing industry has adopted sustainable building techniques,inculcated green principles and technology in their oper ations among others. These precedents are admirable but we have to admit that when taken in the global context, these measures do very little in stemming the distressful tide of global warming whose effects are felt indiscriminately.Global warming is a worldwide problem and therefore all the measures undertaken by the tourism industry must be in line with national and international guidelines that aim at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the future, tourist developments will not only be evaluated and judged with respect to their environmental or socio-economic compatibility and viability but they will also be assessed with respect to the climate-compatibility angle.