International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings - Montana State University Library

Item: Le Sappeyen Chartreuse Ski Resort: How it is Managed and How to Take into Account Climate Change?

• • Title: Le Sappeyen Chartreuse Ski Resort: How it is Managed and How to Take into Account Climate Change?

    Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Grenoble – Chamonix Mont-Blanc - October 07-11, 2013

    Authors:

    • Hubert Gallée  [ Grenoble 1 / CNRS, Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique de l’Environnement, France ]
    • Antoine Kévorkian  [ Le Sappey-en-Chartreuse, France ]
    • Thierry Grenet  [ Institut Néel, CNRS, Grenoble, France ]
    • Pascale Huyghe  [ Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France ]

    Date: 2013-10-07

    Abstract: The Sappey-en-Chartreuse is situated in the Chartreuse mountains, in the French Alps. The low elevation ski resort spans a range of 1000 to 1300 m a.s.l in altitude (see http://www.chartreuse-tourisme.com/fr/neige-glisse-ski-alpin-sappey-chartreuse.aspx ). The village council, in charge of the ski resort, recently faced a costly multi-decadal maintenance milestone entailing a possible closure of the resort. The council requested guidance regarding the possible influence of global warming on snow cover and snow pack thickness expectations for the coming decade. Our detailed study showed the number of opening days of the seasons 1996 – 2008 to be significantly correlated with average winter air temperatures. Moreover these temperatures were themselves well correlated with the so called Arctic Oscillation (AO) index over the period of reference. We also noted that the impact of global warming has been up to now significantly less important than that of recent climate variability. In this paper the management of the station in general will also be discussed. The main result of our investigations was that, based on several projection scenarios, the resort could remain open and the special maintenance program carried out, provided that a combination of careful financial management, opening policy and in season snow forecast be put in place.

    Object ID: ISSW13_paper_O5-26.pdf

    Language of Article: English and French

    Presenter(s): Unknown

    Keywords: ski resort, french alps, snow cover

    Page Number(s): 1216-1219

    Subjects: snow cover french alps climate change

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