We have by now grown accustomed to seeking substitutes for nature in many areas of life, from food to everyday activities. This season, if nature does not "cooperate" by producing snow, humans are even capable of creating it artificially, through so-called snow cannons which, given the right meteorological conditions, convert a certain quantity of water into snow.

The environmental costs of artificial snow

This practice, undeniably beneficial for ski resorts and winter sports enthusiasts, nonetheless comes with high environmental costs. Producing artificial snow requires large quantities of water and energy, and it also alters the composition of the soil, the vegetation and the biodiversity of alpine areas.

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A waste of water and energy

According to the Wwf, approximately 95 million cubic metres of water and 600 gigawatt-hours of energy are used every year, at a cost of 136,000 euros per hectare of piste. According to G. Giacometti, a forestry expert from the Cai section in Padova, artificial snowmaking also entails negative consequences for vegetation.

Artificial snow is an enemy of plants and animals

Artificial snow has a high liquid water content — around 15–20 per cent compared to 7–10 per cent in natural snow — and consequently it is heavier and has a lower thermal insulation capacity than the dry snow that would otherwise form a barrier between the ground and the atmosphere. These factors cause the soil to freeze, preventing the passage of oxygen and leading to the asphyxiation of the underlying vegetation cover, which subsequently dies and rots.

In areas subject to artificial snowmaking, a delay in the onset of vegetative activity of up to 20–25 days compared to the average has been recorded. The deterioration of the grass cover makes slopes more susceptible to erosion and alters the ecology and biodiversity of mountain slopes.

Adapting to a changing climate

Artificial snowmaking on the one hand helps to save the economies of many ski resorts and numerous jobs, while on the other it acts as a kind of blinker. The planet is changing, global temperatures are rising as a result of human activities, and turning a blind eye by replacing natural snow with artificial snow may not be the solution. The use of snow cannons should in any case be regulated and subjected to thorough environmental impact assessments.