The downward trend in snowfall across the entire alpine range between 1920 and 2020 is notable, with an overall 34% decrease. These are the results of a study coordinated by Eurac Research and published in the scientific journal International Journal of Climatology on December 4. The analysis also took into account how altitude and climatological parameters such as temperature and total precipitation affect the picture. Seasonal data on snowfall and rainfall came from 46 locations scattered throughout the Alps.

The most recent ones were recorded by modern meteorological stations; older ones were taken from journals in which special responsible observers had been recording by hand for decades: how many centimeters of snow fell at a given point. Thanks to the collaboration with numerous meteorological bureaus, environmental agencies, enthusiast associations and the University of Trento, it was possible to combine all this information into a single array for analysis. A research team led by Eurac Research then interpreted it, reconstructing a comprehensive picture of snowfall in the Alps between 1920 and 2020.

“The trend of new snowfall in the Alps is sharply negative, and we can speak of an overall decrease of 34% with a marked deterioration after 1980, coinciding with an equally clear increase in temperature,” explains the situation Michel Bozzoli, environmental meteorologist at Eurac Research. and first author of the study. “The most negative trends concern places below 2000 meters above sea level and the southern side, that is, Italy, Slovenia and part of the Austrian Alps,” he adds.

Particularly in the alpine areas to the north, i.e. Switzerland and North Tyrol, the researchers observed how altitude plays a central role in the importance of snow cover and precipitation. Although precipitation increased during the winter season, at lower altitudes snowfall increasingly turns to rain due to rising temperatures. However, snowfall continues at higher altitudes due to a climate that is still quite cold. In the southwest and southeast, temperatures have risen so much that even at the highest altitudes, it often rains instead of snow.

“Snow is fundamental as a water supply; it feeds glaciers, mountain streams and, by slowly melting in the spring, gradually replenishes water supplies. The decrease in snow affects not only winter sports, but all water-based activities and processes. This aspect can no longer be ignored when planning water management policies,” summarized Bozzoli.