Snow days in the Alps 'will HALVE without faster action to stop climate change'

The number of days with snow cover in the Alps will halve without faster action to stop climate change, a new study has warned. Pictured is Steisee, Canton of Berne SNOW DAYS LOST WITH GLOBAL WARMING 1.5-2°C Country 500m 1500m 2500m 3500m Austria -7 d -17 d -25 d -37 d Bosnia and Herzegovina -8 d -24 d N/A N/A Croatia -5 d -26 d N/A N/A France -2 d -16 d -26 d -44 d Germany -9 d -22 d -33 d N/A Italy -3 d -15 d -26 d -45 d Slovenia -6 d -23 d -31 d N/A Switzerland -5 d -18 d -27 d -57 d Lead author Dr Michael Matiu, from Eurac Research in Italy, said: 'I expected reductions in snow cover, but the changes found by this paper under a strong warming scenario – 4-5°C – are very high. Mountains at 8,200ft, for example, would lose almost three months worth of snow per year if emissions are high SNOW DAYS LOST WITH GLOBAL WARMING 4-5°C Country 500m 1500m 2500m 3500m Austria -24 d -46 d -64 d -97 d Bosnia and Herzegovina -21 d -54 d N/A N/A Croatia -13 d -55 d N/A N/A France -6 d -42 d -82 d -116 d Germany -27 d -57 d -78 d N/A Italy -7 d -43 d -88 d -111 d Slovenia -17 d -54 d -94 d N/A Switzerland -17 d -48 d -66 d -112 d Dr Matiu said that while skiing would potentially be able to continue in places due to snow making machines, 'skiing resorts will have to defend the high energy and water usage — especially in times of water scarcity.' Northern Alpine countries would also not be spared without action, with Germany losing 27 days of snow at 1,640ft, 57 days or 49 per cent at 1,500m, and 78 days at 8,200ft, according to the study While widely used in the skiing industry today, artificial snow also melts below temperatures of 0-3°C, depending on the humidity.