Research:On the Snow Farm**

**On the Snow Farm**

This summer promises to be remarkable for winter sports in Banff National Park, Canada.

By June, the managers of the local ski resort expect the snow depth on Sunshine's village, one of their main runs, to reach nearly 20 feet.

"We're calling it the Sunshine village," said Jennifer and Johnston, the  management of Banff Mountain Resort, who plans to halt snow production once the nearby chairlift is fully covered.

It's worth mentioning that most of this snow will be artificially created. In June, average high temperatures in Colorado and Wyoming hover around 80 degrees. However, the management team is determined to create wintry conditions this spring by clearing and collecting snow from different parts of the mountain, and supplementing their modest slopes with artificial snow whenever possible.

This process, known as snow farming, aims to extend the ski season. It's a straightforward method; snow is layered on top of existing snow much like stacking insulating blankets to minimize melting.

Banff Mountain Ski Resort actively engages in snow plowing and stockpiling techniques to help preserve the snow from melting.

For decades, this method of preserving snow to extend winter has been employed in one form or another. Yet, as the $59 billion ski industry in Canada grapples with the impacts of climate change, treating snow as a precious resource has become a strategic necessity. Resorts across the Rocky Mountains, Banff, and various locations in the United States are honing their skills in this technique.

However, it's crucial to understand that these efforts may be akin to fine-tuning the engines of the Titanic. As the climate warms, the availability of snow for skiing is projected to decrease. Research conducted by climate scientists offers a bleak forecast for the future of skiing on both black diamonds and blue squares. In Europe, a study published in *Cryosphere*, a journal associated with the European Geosciences Union, indicates that by the end of this century, up to 70% of the snow in the Alps may vanish.

In Canada, a study by the University of Colorado in partnership with Banff National Park predicts that approximately one-third of ski resorts will see a decline of more than 50% in seasonal snowfall by 2050. For example, Banff Mountain Ski Resort might only be able to offer about 10 weeks of skiing, a significant reduction that could threaten its business model. Traditionally, Banff operates for around 15 weeks; however, this year they aim to extend the season by an additional 10 weeks using their new snow-farming strategy.

"Our goal is to achieve the longest ski season in the Midwest," Arney noted. "If we can manage to have a few weekends in June, that would be extraordinary."
Edited:Olatunbosun Ibrahim Akanbi

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