At the start of this year's Snow of Tomorrow season, I asked myself whether we should make winter as we like it. Travel after it or, even more commonly, simply produce the snow when it suits us. Sure, that's easy too. If I want to go skiing in November and it hasn't snowed enough yet, then fortunately there are ski destinations that have already made provisions. Or should I say, have made provisions? Because most of these ski destinations are not directly under the pillow of Mrs. Holle, but have simply established other methods to adapt the snow to the tourist season. The keywords artificial snow or snow farming are probably popping up in your head right now. But what exactly do these methods do and why can we no longer do without them?
The well-known black sheep: artificial snow
Wet, icy, somehow different to ski on. That's how we know artificial snow. However, the technology and composition of artificially produced snow has changed significantly in recent years. Today, artificial snow is no longer what it used to be. It is no longer even called artificial snow, but "technically produced snow". Because there is not much artificial about it. In modern facilities, it is made from air and water. Nothing else. No extra chemicals. No environmental toxins. Just water and cold air. Just like in nature, only without the crystal structure known from snowflakes. The study by Nora Els, which she has already presented in Snow of Tomorrow, also confirms this. Only the chemical composition of the water differs from natural snow. This is due to the fact that the water in the reservoirs differs in detail from the water in the snow clouds.
However, artificial snow, sorry, technically produced snow, still has the reputation of being a water and energy waster. A study by the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (SLF Davos for short) has more or less disproved this energy waster. In Davos, technical snowmaking accounts for just 0.5 percent of total energy consumption. In contrast, 32.5 percent is used by apartments. However, snowmaking systems do consume water: according to the SIS/DSV Advisory Board for the Environment and Ski Sports Development, 250 to 350 liters are needed for one cubic meter of snow, depending on the quality of the snow. However, the water is not lost: it is returned to the natural water cycle after the snow melts. In addition, technically produced snow can protect the vegetation on the slopes from damage caused by snow groomers, but also from late frost in spring. On the other hand, this snow cover can have an effect on the composition of the vegetation as it lasts longer on snow-covered slopes.
So let's summarize: Artificial snow is no longer the complete retort brother of natural snow. Of course, every technical application consumes resources and energy. Natural snow is always necessary. In Warth-Schröcken, for example, technical snow is used to guarantee a basic snow cover of around 30 centimetres on the slopes at the start of the season. The rest, however, has to be covered by natural snow. This is why snowmaking systems on existing slopes can guarantee a continuous snow cover and planning reliability, but should not be used to open up new areas.
