Discussions on Climate Change Adaptation in the Alpine area on 30 - 31 March 2011,
at the Regional Museum of Natural Science in Turin (Italy)

Davy Vanham, Sara De Toffol, Ernst Fleischhacker & Wolfgang Rauch

Abstract

Due to the vulnerability of winter tourism to climate change an increased production of technical snow is anticipated in future. This paper focuses on the impact of snowmaking as a water demand stakeholder on a regional water balance (water resources-water demand), both in the present day and a climate change scenario situation. Two regions around the famous ski resorts of Kitzbühel and Sölden in the Austrian Province of Tyrol have been analysed. Based upon certain assumptions it can be shown no threat exists to any water demand stakeholder within these alpine areas on a regional basis today or in nearby future.