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Modelling the Future of Glacier Skiing in High-Altitude Alpine Resorts
Glaciers worldwide are retreating due to climate change, leading to diverse consequences such as sea level rise, changes in water availability, increased natural hazards, and disruptions to tourism. In the European Alps, glaciers are a key attraction, drawing millions of visitors annually. One of the touristic attractivities of glaciers is their role in skiing. However, climate change in and especially recent extreme negative mass balance years have significantly impacted summer skiing (e.g., Abegg and Mayer, 2023). This MSc project aims to assess the effects of climate change on glacier-based ski resorts across the Alps. Potential study sites include Hintertux, Les Deux Alpes, Saas Fee, and Tignes, though other locations may also be considered.
**Background**
Glaciers worldwide are retreating due to climate change, leading to diverse consequences such as sea level rise, changes in water availability, increased natural hazards, and disruptions to tourism. In the European Alps, glaciers are a key attraction, drawing millions of visitors annually. One of the touristic attractivities of glaciers is their role in skiing. However, climate change in and especially recent extreme negative mass balance years have significantly impacted summer skiing (e.g., Abegg and Mayer, 2023). This MSc project aims to assess the effects of climate change on glacier-based ski resorts across the Alps. Potential study sites include Hintertux, Les Deux Alpes, Saas Fee, and Tignes, though other locations may also be considered.
**Goal**
The goal of this MSc thesis is to apply an ice flow and mass balance model (Van Tricht and Huybrechts, 2023) to various Alpine glaciers that host ski resorts. Using existing models, ice thickness datasets, satellite imagery, mass balance observations, ski resort maps, and meteorological records, the research will simulate historical and future glacier evolution under climate change while accounting for the impact of ski resort activities.
**Methodology & Workflow**
1. Familiarisation with the mass balance and ice flow model.
2. Data Collection, including:
o Satellite data (snowlines)
o Ice thickness measurements and reconstructions (what is available, should we collect?)
o Meteorological records
o Historical observations
o Information from ski resorts (closing dates of the resorts, piste locations)
3. Model Adaptation to incorporate artificial snowmaking and snow farming (similar to tarps).
4. Model Execution & Evaluation of glacier mass balance and ice flow dynamics.
5. Future Simulations considering climate change scenarios and ski resort impact.
**References**
Abegg, B., & Mayer, M. (2023). The exceptional year of 2022: “deathblow” to glacier summer skiing in the Alps? Frontiers in Human Dynamics, 5, 1154245.
Van Tricht, L., & Huybrechts, P. (2023). Modeling the historical and future evolution of six ice masses in the Tien Shan, Central Asia, using a 3D ice-flow model. The Cryosphere, 17, 4463–4485. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4463-2023
**Background**
Glaciers worldwide are retreating due to climate change, leading to diverse consequences such as sea level rise, changes in water availability, increased natural hazards, and disruptions to tourism. In the European Alps, glaciers are a key attraction, drawing millions of visitors annually. One of the touristic attractivities of glaciers is their role in skiing. However, climate change in and especially recent extreme negative mass balance years have significantly impacted summer skiing (e.g., Abegg and Mayer, 2023). This MSc project aims to assess the effects of climate change on glacier-based ski resorts across the Alps. Potential study sites include Hintertux, Les Deux Alpes, Saas Fee, and Tignes, though other locations may also be considered.
**Goal**
The goal of this MSc thesis is to apply an ice flow and mass balance model (Van Tricht and Huybrechts, 2023) to various Alpine glaciers that host ski resorts. Using existing models, ice thickness datasets, satellite imagery, mass balance observations, ski resort maps, and meteorological records, the research will simulate historical and future glacier evolution under climate change while accounting for the impact of ski resort activities.
**Methodology & Workflow**
1. Familiarisation with the mass balance and ice flow model. 2. Data Collection, including: o Satellite data (snowlines) o Ice thickness measurements and reconstructions (what is available, should we collect?) o Meteorological records o Historical observations o Information from ski resorts (closing dates of the resorts, piste locations) 3. Model Adaptation to incorporate artificial snowmaking and snow farming (similar to tarps). 4. Model Execution & Evaluation of glacier mass balance and ice flow dynamics. 5. Future Simulations considering climate change scenarios and ski resort impact.
**References**
Abegg, B., & Mayer, M. (2023). The exceptional year of 2022: “deathblow” to glacier summer skiing in the Alps? Frontiers in Human Dynamics, 5, 1154245.
Van Tricht, L., & Huybrechts, P. (2023). Modeling the historical and future evolution of six ice masses in the Tien Shan, Central Asia, using a 3D ice-flow model. The Cryosphere, 17, 4463–4485. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4463-2023
The goal of this MSc thesis is to apply an ice flow and mass balance model (Van Tricht and Huybrechts, 2023) to various Alpine glaciers that host ski resorts. Using existing models, ice thickness datasets, satellite imagery, mass balance observations, ski resort maps, and meteorological records, the research will simulate historical and future glacier evolution under climate change while accounting for the impact of ski resort activities.
The goal of this MSc thesis is to apply an ice flow and mass balance model (Van Tricht and Huybrechts, 2023) to various Alpine glaciers that host ski resorts. Using existing models, ice thickness datasets, satellite imagery, mass balance observations, ski resort maps, and meteorological records, the research will simulate historical and future glacier evolution under climate change while accounting for the impact of ski resort activities.
For further information please contact Dr. Lander Van Tricht (vantricht@vaw.baug.ethz.ch)
For further information please contact Dr. Lander Van Tricht (vantricht@vaw.baug.ethz.ch)
