Mini  case  study   Class  703_e   Marcial  Sommer  

December  2013   HES  SO  Valais   1  

Case  Study:  What  effect  does  artificial  snowmaking  have  on  the  environment?  

 

Introduction    

Winter  tourism  has  become  a  very  important  economic  sector  in  the  alpine  region.  In  the  70s,   the   snowfalls   in   the   Alps   became   variable   and   the   need   of   guaranteed   snow   increased  (Gianumberto   ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).  Artificial  snowmaking  was   invented   in   the  US   in   the   50s   and   introduced   and   implemented   in   Europe   in   the   beginning   of   the   70s  (Gianumberto  ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).    Artificial  snow  is  usually  made  with  the  use  of  snow  guns.  The  procedure  is  rather  simple.  Water  is   being   pumped   to   the   snow   gun   and   is   being   spayed   into   the   air  with   the   help   of   fans   and  compressed   air   (Gianumberto   ,   Crescini,   Tarroco,   &   Palmeri,   2006).     If   the   air   is   cold   enough  (ideal  temperatures  are  between  -­‐7  to  -­‐4  degrees  Celsius  (Schuchlenz,  2012).  The  ideal  humidity  should  be   less   than  40%  for   ideal  conditions,   in  which  3m3  can  be  obtained  with  1m3  of  water  (Gianumberto  ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).    More   and   more   ski   stations   throughout   the   alpine   region   are   dependant   on   artificial  snowmaking.  The  effect  on  the  environment  is  told  to  be  quite  severe,  but  is  not  yet  thoroughly  researched.    This  mini  case  study  is  based  on  3  articles,  of  which  one  focuses  on  Italy,  one  on  Austria  and  the  last  one  on  Switzerland.    

Mini  case  study   Class  703_e   Marcial  Sommer  

December  2013   HES  SO  Valais   2  

Inputs  of  additives    

It   is   possible   to   make   artificial   snow   production   at   warmer   temperatures.   When   ice  nucleation  active  (NIA)  is  added  to  the  water,  snow  production  is  possible  to  temperatures  up  to  3   degrees   Celsius   (Rixen,   Stoeckli,   &   Ammann,   2003).   About   half   the   Northern   American   ski  resorts   are   using   NIA   already   to   produce   snow   at   lower   temperatures   (Rixen,   Stoeckli,   &  Ammann,  2003).  The  input  of  additives  can  influence  the  ecosystem  in  different  ways.  The  most  important   concern   of   using   bacterial   products   is   the   effects   on   the   plants   (Rixen,   Stoeckli,   &  Ammann,  2003).  Another  important  factor  is  the  impact  of  drinking  water.  The  water  used  from  snow  guns  are  ending  up   in   the  ground  water  and  the  water  consequentially  returns   in  worse  quality  as  drinking  water  (Schuchlenz,  2012).    

The  use  of  bacterial  additives  is  not  allowed  everywhere  in  the  alpine  region.  The  most  common  additive  is  called  “Snowmax”  and  is  forbidden  in  Germany  and  Italy  (Rixen,  Stoeckli,  &  Ammann,  2003).  Switzerland  and  Austria  however,  have  less  direct  legislation  on  that  issue,  the  law  depends  from  region  to  region.    

Water  resources    

The  business  of  artificial  snowmaking  is  extremely  water  consuming.  The  water  used  fir  the  production  is  mostly  stored  in  a  reservoir.  In  order  to  fill  the  reservoir,  water  is  often  taken  from  mountain  currents  (Gianumberto  ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).  Situations  like  this  often  lead  to  a  shortage  of  drinking  water  in  the  communities.  The  Italian  region  “Provincia  Autonoma  di  Bolzano”  has  limited  the  amount  of  water  that  can  be  taken  from  the  currents.  The  same  region  also  forbids  to  add  additives  to  water  which  is  destined  for  snow  making  (Gianumberto  ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).  

The  Austrian  Alpine  Association  estimates  that  for  a  surface  of  artificial  snow  of  10  hectares  a  2.5  million  litres  of  water  is  needed  (Schuchlenz,  2012).  This  compares  the  water  consumption  of  a  city  of  10’000  (Schuchlenz,  2012).  

Flora  &  Fauna    

The   vegetation   under   ski   slopes   suffers   generally   because   of   the   fact   of   human   ski  activity.   Artificial   snow   does   create   a   thicker   layer   of   snow,   which   protects   the   plants   from  mechanical   activity   of   slope   maintenance   such   as   snow-­‐grooming   vehicles.   (Gianumberto   ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).  

However,  because  of  the  extra  snow,  the  slopes  take  longer  to  melt  in  the  spring.  This  has  a   direct   impact   on   plants,   because   the   snowmelt   can   be   postponed   up   to   4   weeks   (Rixen,  Stoeckli,  &  Ammann,  2003).  The  biomass  of  the  plants  can  be  dramatically  reduced  especially  for  certain  species  (Gianumberto  ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).    

The  entire  soil  structure  is  often  completely  damaged  from  the  constant  activity  of  skiing  (Gianumberto  ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).  The  fauna  is  often  very  disturbed  by  the  use  of   snow   cannons.   Because   the   temperatures   are   lower,   snow   is  mostly   created   at   night.   This  causes   an   intense   acoustic   level,   which   can   affect   the   animal   world   in   the   region   badly  (Gianumberto  ,  Crescini,  Tarroco,  &  Palmeri,  2006).    

Conclusion    

Switzerland  is  in  quite  a  luxurious  position  when  it  comes  to  natural  snow  coverage.  The  average  height  of  the  ski  stations  is  higher  than  our  surrounding  neighbour.  But  also  Switzerland  needs  to  fight  more  and  more  with  warmer  climate  and  less  natural  snow.  The  use  of  artificial  

Mini  case  study   Class  703_e   Marcial  Sommer  

December  2013   HES  SO  Valais   3  

snowmaking  has  become  a  standard  in  many  stations.  It  looks  like  the  trend  towards  a  warmer  climate   is   going   to   continue   and   the   topic   of   artificial   snow   is   therefore   of   great   importance.  Especially  because  many  aspects  of  the  topic  in  terms  of  environmental  damage,  are  not  by  any  means   researched   thoroughly   enough.   There   is   also   a   lack   of   policy   in   Switzerland.  While   the  input  of  additives  is  not  allowed  in  some  alpine  countries,  the  Swiss  legislation  system  does  not  take  initiative  but  rather  empowers  the  cantons  with  the  topic.    But  there  are  not  only  “invisible”  consequences  of  artificial  snowmaking.  The  process  involves  a  great   deal   of   machines   and   infrastructure.   Prominent   water   reservoirs,   pumps,   the   snow  cannons  itself,  kilometres  of  cables  and  water  pipes,  compressors  and  much  more  is  needed  for  this   process   (Schuchlenz,   2012).  Many   destinations   these   days   have   found,   that   flattening   the  slopes  during  the  summer  months  enhances  the  quality  of  the  artificial  snow.  And  flattening  is  nothing  else  than  destroying  the  soil  with  bulldozers  (Schuchlenz,  2012).      

Huge  energy  and  water  consumptions  is  another  factor  which  causes  additional  stress  to  the   environment.   Polluted   ground   and   drinking   water,   where   no   one   really   knows   what   the  effects  of  bacterial  additives  on  humans  are  is  just  one  factor.  The  quantity  of  water  that  is  lost  somewhere  and  put  into  artificial  snowmaking  somewhere  else  is  another.    

The  consequences  are  probably  much  bigger  than  generally  assumed.  It   is   important  to  invest   in   further   studies   in   order   to   understand   the   environmental   damages   better.   This   is   a  topic,  which   can   create   severe   problems   to   the   environment   and   it   is   crucial   to   have   a   better  understanding  of  it.  If  it  shows  that  artificial  snowmaking  badly  affects  the  environment  and  it  is  an  unsustainable  practice,  the  Swiss  government  has  to  act  and  adapt  the  legislation  in  order  to  protect  the  ecosystems  of  our  mountains.      

Bibliography    Gianumberto  ,  C.,  Crescini,  E.,  Tarroco,  S.,  &  Palmeri,  F.  (2006).  Environmental  modifications  induced  by  the  practice  of  “Artificial  snow-­‐making”  in  the  Obereggen/Val  D’Ega  Area  (Italy)  .  Journal  Of  Mediterranean  Ecology  (7),  S.  31-­‐38.  Rixen,  C.,  Stoeckli,  V.,  &  Ammann,  W.  (June  2003).  Does  artificial  snow  production  affect  soil  and  vegetation  of  ski  pistes?  A  review.  (7.  D.  Swiss  Federal  Institute  for  Snow  and  Avalanche  Research  SLF,  Hrsg.)  Perspectives  in  Plant  Ecology,  Evolution  and  Systematics  ,  S.  219-­‐230.  Schuchlenz,  J.  (2012).  Consequences  of  artificial  snow-­‐making  Impacts  on  the  landscape  and  the  environment  .  Erasmus  -­‐  Intensive  Programme  ,  S.  146-­‐155.