International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 52 WARMING WINTERS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE’S LOST SKI AREAS: An Integrated Case Study

• Main Author: Hampshire Durham Nh
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.196.8221; http://pubpages.unh.edu/~lch/ski_warming.pdf

New Hampshire’s mountains and winter climate support a ski industry that contributes substantially to the state economy. Through more than 70 years of history, this industry has adapted and changed with its host society. The climate itself has changed during this period too, in ways that influenced the ski industry’s development. During the 20th century, New Hampshire’s mean winter temperature warmed about 2.1 ° C (3.8° F). Much of that change occurred since 1970. The multi-decadal variations in New Hampshire winters follow global temperature trends. Downward trends in snowfall, strongest in southern New Hampshire, also correlate with the North Atlantic Oscillation. Many small ski areas opened during the early years while winters were cold and snowy. As winters warmed, areas in southern or low-elevation locations faced a critical disadvantage. Under pressure from both climate and competition, the number of small ski areas leveled off and then fell steeply after 1970. The number of larger, chairlift-operating ski areas began falling too after 1980. A prolonged warming period increased the importance of geographic advantages, and also of capital investment in snowmaking, grooming and economic diversification. The consolidation trend continues today. Most of the surviving ski areas are located in the northern mountains. Elsewhere around the state, one can find the remains of “lost ” ski areas in places that now rarely have snow suitable for downhill skiing. Volume 23 Number 10 2003 53