Climate change a risk to winter sports

[marmar]

RENO, NEV. — Snow that serves as the lifeblood of the nation’s $12.2 billion winter sports industry is melting under the influence of a warming climate, and dramatic steps are needed to protect the industry and the jobs it provides, a new study prepared for conservation groups concludes.

Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing — even ice fishing — could all be in trouble unless winter sports industry leaders take a leadership role in curbing emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, members of the National Resources Defense Council and Protect Our Winters insist.

Unless changes are made, winter temperatures could rise an additional 4 to 10 degrees by the end of the century. Snow depths in the West could decline by 25 percent to 100 percent. In the Sierra, the snowpack could decrease between 40 percent and 70 percent by 2050.

“This industry, as a whole, needs to take its head out of the snow before it melts away,” said Antonia Herzog, assistant director of the defense council’s Climate and Clean Air Program. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20121208/NEWS01/312080026/Climate-change-risk-winter-sports