Changes in Climate and Snow Cover in View of Functioning of Ski Resorts in Russia in the Early 21th Century

Abstract

Received December 14, 2023; revised April 21, 2023; accepted June 27, 2023The development of winter ski tourism and characteristics of ski resorts in various regions of Russia are closely related to climatic conditions, the most important of which are the presence and duration of snow cover. For the period 2000–2021, a study of snow cover, availability of “optimal ski days” and climatic indicators necessary for artificial snowmaking at ski resorts located in different regions of Russia was performed, using data of the reanalysis ERA5-Land. The characteristics of snow cover and temperature from the reanalysis data were compared with data of the meteorological network. The ERA5-Land data for temperature, precipitation, and snow cover thickness are well synchronized with the observational data, and estimates of the error of trends in air temperature and snow cover depth according to the reanalysis data relative to the station data give satisfactory results. In the conditions of the current climate, the average and maximum thickness of snow cover in all resorts is sufficient for their functioning, but in 2000–2021, a decrease in both the maximum and average values of snow cover is noted in most resorts. The study shows that in terms of snow and weather conditions, the highest mountain resorts of the North Caucasus and Kirovsk (Murmansk region) are the most prosperous, where thickness of the snow cover and duration of its occurrence as well as a significant number of “optimal ski days” sustains stability of the resorts and creates favorable conditions for their further development.