Global Warming Poses Threat to Ski Resorts in USA Essay Example for Free

world(a) Warming Poses Threat to go Resorts in USA r completeerThe American west is marvellous, it is large with grand landscapes and potbellys reaching to the sky . The plains unfold to the horizon and the vistas present an insuff durationble panorama. Just equivalent any where else in the world, water is an essential element to life here notwithstanding it is scarce hence creating the wests vulnerability. Precipitation is publicly low and cannot support agriculture it is for this reason that agriculture is solitary(prenominal) possible through irrigation.This precipitation is not yet scarce except scarcest in the summers when it is mostly demand solitary(prenominal) when falls disproportionately and mostly in the mountains in the winter. The only saving grace is that in winter it precipitates as reverse and stays as coulomb packs throughout the winter. It is on the basis of these live patterns that the winter sports tourism is established. This patience has se rved as the main economic driving machine of the west and separate other aras for decades. However, changing climatic patterns and planetary heating plant has emerged as a serious threat to the initiation of the winter sports industry.Projected profits in clean spheric temperatures due to increases in putting green stick out hitmanes in the atmosphere has been incriminated in far-flung glacial and white cap decreases, ocean level rise and heating system but most importantly in the reduction of cokefall coer and the decrease in the succession of winter tourism. The un look toability of the coming(prenominal) and the humor tippy nature of winter sports tourism has led to more initiative orchestrateed curbing the increase in green ho habituate gases and consequently making snow available. display Compelling evidence suggests that global humour has been on a progressive pitch since the industrial era and is projected to last out over the 21st century and beyond. global change and climate multifariousness is an positive phenomenon. Global mean temperature has been on the increase with an approximate increase of 0. 760 C in the midst of 1850-1899. the same increase has been found amidst 2001 and 2005. This elbow room that global predictions of temperature bear a 90% opportunity (IPPC. Climate channelize over and tourism, 2007).These increases in average temperatures ar a direct result of human activities that increase the concentrations of green house gases in the atmosphere. The extent of these discernible human influences get under ones skin in any case extended to other climate change aspects such(prenominal) as temperature extremes, changes in digress 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 ocean level rise of approximately 1. 8mm yearly from 1961-2003 and app roximately 3. 1mm yearly from 1993-2003.The successive operation of biological response in ecosystems and species diversity presents an unpleasant scenario and these statistics are recorded in virtually e genuinely continent. It is projected that the probability of increase in global temperatures allow further accelerate green house gas emissions at the present or above the present rates. The prediction pushes overall global temperature rise by 1. 80C -4. 00C. take for granted that the atmospheric concentrations of green house gases are stabilized, the warming effect would still continue due to the levels of green house gases from past emissions and the consequent thermal inertia of oceans.The biological response would also be extrapolated to future centuries even if the levels are stabilized at the present concentrations today. The discernible manifestations worldwide go away be hot temperature extremes, extreme heat waves, menacing precipitation, peak wind speeds and preci pitation in tropical cyclone events and an additional heavy precipitation associated with increases in tropical sea and surface temperatures. Together with these climatic changes extra tropical do tracks are projected to shift towards the poles. on the whole these changes together with the decreases in show cover lead continue into the future.The economic and environmental risks are unfathomable and would effectively impede nations strides towards the achievements of sustainable suppurations. However, there is hope that if precautions and measures are taken to reduce green house gases today the noble costs of environmental and economic end and disruption can fairly be mitigated. This calls for lifestyle changes, economic policies and regulations and international efforts that not only overhaul reduce the causative agents of climate change and global warming but also foster allowance and mitigation measures to meet the challenges of climate change.Climate change and Tourism Cl imate change, especially global warming has grown to be a pivotal issue in the development and management of tourism. The relationship amid the environment, climate and tourism sector is currently a highly sensitive economic matter. Climate change is increasingly driving tourism development and decision making, changing tourism destinations and even phaeton tastes. Tourism sector remains a non negligible contributor to climatic changes. GHG emissions from transport and accommodation essential be reduced in accordance with international standards.Tourism sector cannot address the challenges of climatic changes themselves and in closing off but they can only do this in the context 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 head as destination choice and the level of tourist spending are all determined by climate chang e. Climate change and winter sports Winter sports constitute a very source of income and the reliability of snow is a key element in the touristic purpose.Skiing and snowboarding are the most common forms of writer sports but others such as snow hiking and cross-country go also depends on the reliability and the availability of full snow. Mountainous areas are al instructions very sensitive to climate change hence less snow, warming permafrost, receding glaciers and extreme events such as landslides. Additionally climate change shift mountain animal and flora. These effects pose a direct threat to locomote resorts in the United States. Lower honorarium in winter tourism result 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 locomote at high lift up the mountain. If this was to happen there would be an intense concentration of sports activities in certain regions as well as further putting pressure 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 overflowing snow the profitability of the ski 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 destiny in planning for trips at shorter notices especially the weekends (Rolf Burki et al, 2003) Studies undertaken in Canada, Australia, 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 rough regions wi th high technological advances like adaptation strategies (artificial snow making) will maintain their tourism, others unable to adapt the valuable technologies will lose out. These expeditionions in business volumes will not only be set by limiting snow levels but also the fact 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 skiing and only 4% would give up the sport. united 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). Snow resorts not concentrate in snow reliable high altitude areas will be forced to withdraw from the marketplace because of decreasing levels of snow. For transport industries that will offer access to high altitude areas (sometimes higher than 20 0m) business prospects will be good due an judge increase in skiing at the high altitudes.The effect of this will be quantitative expansion of the high altitude skiing resorts hence eliciting a negatively charged 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 proud Mountain (Breiling and Charamza, 1999) It is for these effects of climate change that during a recent campaign in Portsmouth, N. H, Barrack Obama the parliamentary 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 America ski areas together with their customers should work hand in hand to change their strength spending. habits and resort to green technology if they were to prevent climate caused melt-downs (Laura Bly, 2007) Resorts have started investing in sustainable seafood practices, local food supplies, biodiesel powered snow cats and embracing the use of more energy efficient snow making equipment.To achieve this, campaigns on global warming and discounts are being offered to guests who come in hybridisation cans. What is even more impressing is that resorts have taken the challenge of campaigning for these changes as well as playing as advocates for intergovernmental change. Effects of global warming have also been reported in Burlington Vt. The city is usually carpeted in December but unfortunately changing climatic conditions has created a mild mail where snowfall is meager just an inch thick.The temperatures are becoming warmer and fewer trails open. However, these fears have been allayed by the optimis m of the meteorological department prediction that the season will progress as Christmas approaches. According to Michael Berry president of the National ski Areas Association, the potential impacts winter recreation, the mountain ecosystem and the way of life of residents in these areas cannot be ignored. Global warming has a direct and profound effect on the ski business as it depends entirely on the variability of hold out.To drive this process of change, the association has adapted a policy to regulate and arrest climate change. The reduce, educate and advocate approach was adopted to help in the fight against global warming. cardinal 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 (Mic hael Berry, 2007).To this end almost half of the 59 ski resorts, who have purchased renewable energy credits or use green energy for their lifts and other facilities are 100% green powered hence reducing deoxycytidine monophosphate dioxide emission by 427,596,000 pounds an equivalent of planting almost 17 million trees. Customers are encouraged to rootage their emission and work towards increasing green energy use in their home. Generation of renewable energy through on site solar projects or micro hydro power projects and wind energy has greatly increased with Jimmy Peak Mountain Resort in Massachusetts installing the first wind turbine powered ski area in August 2007.Resort vehicle fleets are now victimisation alternative fuels like biodiesel, they also provide or promote car pooling or mass transit use. Ski resorts are being built using green building techniques and retrofitting existing facilities all with the aim of saving energy. Though an outreach program called Keep Win ter 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 average temperatures, on the other hand if there are extremely low temperatures at night accordingly 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 shortened and the snow will be slushier.The big difference to front situation where snow cover was considerably reduced is that, the capital intensity of the winter sports tourism will be considerably high. When this is study in the context of profits from ski dependent bu sinesses, taxes from local and verbalise governments, the financial prospects of industries in the winter tourism sector look bleak. However, the most important link between climate change and mountain tourism is less snow and, as a consequence, less cyberspace 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 wooly-minded slightly more than 25% of their surface. If this was to continue in the future, by 2030, approximately 20% to 70% of the entire 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 per mafrost due to global warming makes mountain areas vulnerable to landslides. Transport facilities such as the mountain cable way stations, the lift masts and buildings become 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 taxation due to potential risk of injury like rockfall or other health 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 deal of losses in the winter tourism industry. The avalanche winter destroyed 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 viability . 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 forefront 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 recognised that snow deficient conditions will determine whether winter tourism will remain a possible economic activity. To achieve this a multi sectoral framework 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 a dopt safe and efficient energy usage through the exploitation of renewable energy resources. It is this concerted effort in mitigating climate change challenges that also saw the support and s of McCain/Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act to spearhead the fight against global warming. Specifically these attempts will help stabilize the US$ 5 billion mountain resort industry that currently offers employment to 165,000 people.Despite the existence of facts that predict radical effects in the industry, some argue that climate change issues are very magnify 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 barely affected. Discussions should yield strategies that take into account 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 incorporated 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 efficiency 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 expansive developments with less attractiv e offers. synthetic Snow making This is an ubiquitous strategy that is widely employed to mitigate the risk of climate change. Since its beginning 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 engaged in the strategy. Its success has mainly been driven by its valuable superior 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 structured to enable ski resorts make app ropriate 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 enabling 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 operations 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 worrying 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.