It’s been a tough winter for many Colorado ski areas. Until recently, the central and northern mountains were starved for snow; meanwhile, the southern mountains were seeing more than their fair share, going against pre-season predictions. But these flip-flops in forecasts and surprise storm patterns may become more common in the future. A 2008 report by the Western Water Assessment showed that statewide temperatures across Colorado had increased by two degrees since 1977 — a substantial warmup that’s continuing to affect ski areas. “The impacts of climate change are going to differ from region to region, but across the board, research is indicating a shortening of the ski season due to rising average temperatures and a reduction in snowfall,” says Natalie Ooi, head of the Ski Area Management department at Colorado State University.
The National Integrated Drought Information System had long focused its work on the effects of climate change on the agriculture and ranching industries in the Intermountain West. But after the Outdoor Industry of America released a report in 2017 noting its economic impact, the NIDIS decided to expand its scope. Realizing that the outdoors industry could benefit from its services, NIDIS put out a call for research proposals. The Colorado Climate Center, a state office housed at CSU that tracks the weather in Colorado with the goal of monitoring the climate, answered that call. Working with CSU’s Ski Area Management program, CCC came up with a proposal to study the effects of climate change on ski areas. NIDIS approved the project, and last year Ooi and the CCC conducted research at several Colorado ski areas to gain a better understanding of how their near and long-term decisions are influenced by climate change, and how data can be better curated better so that ski area management can prepare for a changing atmosphere.To view the full article visit WestWord.