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IV.2. The significance of climatic conditions

The seasonality of skiing sports is influenced by the climatic conditions of ski tourism destinations. (Kollarik 1991). In the mountains the higher an area is, the lower is its temperature, its pressure and its oxygen content. On the other hand, radiation levels, the daily fluctuation in temperature and the amount of precipitation, all rise. From the point of view of our topic, the temperature of the air, the snow as a form of precipitation and the wind conditions play a significant role.

At places, where the snow cover does not last long, ski tourism is not very well developed. There is a close relationship between the formation of the snow cover and the altitude. But it is difficult to say whether or not the snow cover will last. That feature also depends on several other factors including the orientation of the slopes (in the northern hemisphere melting is faster on southern slopes), the influence of the foehn winds (snow eaters). When evaluating the factors influencing the formation and the disappearance of the snow cover from the point of view of tourism, it can be stated that the beginning of the winter skiing season can be determined quite easily on the basis of altitude figures. Its end is more unpredictable. (Herlicska 2000). Fake snow – which is used when not enough natural snow is available – can be risky for the environment.  (Rixen et. al. 2003).

http://www.slf.ch/info/mitarbeitende/rixen/download/Rixen_etal_03.pdf

In the mountains at higher altitudes the annual mean temperature decreases by 0.5 oC every 100 m. In connection with temperatures some harmful phenomena need to be mentioned. One of these is the change when the temperature is nearing the freezing point. It may spoil the quality of the snow. The other factor is an inversion in  air temperature, meaning that it does not go down at higher altitudes, but it rises, instead. It is quite common in winter that basins in the mountainous areas are for days covered with fog, while the surrounding peaks are sunny. (Futó 1988). Reverse temperatures may result in the melting of the snow in higher regions, and this phenomenon is not good for skiing sport.  

Snow, as a result of a fall in temperature, is precipitation in the form of flakes of crystalline water ice that falls from clouds. In order to have snow the temperature needs to be below freezing point at higher altitudes and near the ground at around  0 oC. Snow conditions are very important factors in skiing from the point of view of the skiers’ physical condition and technique. The so-called ’new snow’ is soft, ’old snow’ is ’hard’, because snow flakes lying next to each other have already had mutual impact on one another.  The end-product, when old snow has turned into ice, is called firn. (icy snow). The powder snow, which comes into being at very low temperatures, is the most enjoyable substance for skiers. (Bánhidi 2011).

The speed, direction and microregional dispersion of the wind are determined by the terrain.  In the Alps for example, above 1400-1500 m the speed of the wing rises dramatically. (Below this altitude the terrain is able to moderate it.)  (Herlicska 2000). The most frequent types of wind are the foehn and the mountain-valley wind.