Scientists warn of bad outlook for future ski seasons as climate change affects snowfall
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Recent snowfalls at ski fields in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains may have been good news for holidaymakers, but studies have shown there might be disappointment ahead for snow lovers in the long term.
Skiers and other snow lovers have faced a torrid time in the Australian alpine region lately with hardly any natural snow to enjoy since the start of July.
While the latest snowfall looks good for both tourists and tourism, recent studies on climate change have highlighted that things may not remain the same in future.
Research conducted by Griffith University's Environmental Futures Research Institute has warned that snow regions in Australia must adapt to warmer conditions caused by climate change, that is increasingly turning the alpine landscape from white to green.
Study co-author Professor Catherine Pickering said the current trends did not look promising and good years like the recent snow dump had become less frequent.
"The snow cover in the Australian alps is declining and it has declined a lot since 1954 when there was the longest snow course on record," she said.
"We have found that it was originally a 30 per cent decline and now the latest data indicates we have got to a 40 per cent decline over that period.
"We used to have a couple of really big years when we had a lot of snow but that is no longer the case. Now, what used to be a not so great year, that is what we think of as a good year."
Climate change, decreased rainfall key factors affecting snowfall: forecaster
One of the key changes in recent times has been the warming of temperatures in the alpine region.
Weather forecaster Sean Carson said that the decline was due to various changes in weather patterns.
"When we look at the climate change or the global warming that we have seen over the last hundred years in Australia, we are looking at a 1 degree [Celsius] warming in the Australian region over the last hundred years," he said.
"When you combine that with decreased rainfall in those cooler winters, autumn and spring months, we are also seeing decline in snow depths."
Mr Carson said most of the snow people are enjoying at ski resorts was artificial.
"I am a keen skier myself and certainly would like the industry to do well," he said.
"But when you look at the trends over the last 50-60 years, there is no doubt that the levels are rising in terms of elevation to a height where snow settles and the amount is also declining."
However, Professor Pickering said that even if there were snow falls, the sustainability of natural snow was also an issue.
"The size of those dumps are declining and the frequency of the larger dumps are declining," she said.
"That's why we are getting good snow cover, then green, good snow cover, then green, good snow cover, then green, and then it's end of the season."
Professor Pickering said the change in snow levels would have a major impact on the wider Australian environment.
"We will get occasional dumps but we won't get this new snow cover that we thought of as classic thing for Australia," she said.
"That has impacts for the key resorts, but it also has impacts for lots of wildlife.
"I am a botanist as well, I am really interested in how it is affecting the alpine plants.
"Because we don't have higher mountains for our alpine plants to start to colonise, that's why ours is one of the most at-risk alpine areas in the world."
Snow lovers still optimistic about future
But, Canberra Alpine Club president Lloyd Meehan said snow lovers were content with the current weather conditions and snow levels.
Mr Meehan said he believes while weather patterns changed over time, the decline was not consistent.
"The scientists will tell us that perhaps when you are looking at pure statistical data, there has been a gradual decline," he said.
"But like many sports, from one year to the next it is a bit hard to actually guess what sort of snow depth we are going to get.
"One year you will get a poor one, the next year - like two years ago - you get quite good ones."
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