Will some ski resorts have to close permanently due to lack of snow in the coming decades?

North Cascades National Park near Winthrop in Washington. Within 60 years, some mountain ranges in western United States could be almost completely devoid of snow. Photo: AFP

Within 60 years' time, some mountain ranges in western United States could be almost completely devoid of snow for years if global greenhouse gas emissions are not rapidly reduced. That's the conclusion of a recent study in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment.

The research was based on multi-year observations of the snowpack in mountains of western United States, including the Sierra Nevada range in California and Cascade in Colorado. It is estimated that these mountains have already lost 20% of their snowpack since the 1950s and that this could drop by another 25% by 2050.

"Diminished and more ephemeral snowpacks that melt earlier will alter groundwater and streamflow dynamics," warn the researchers behind the publication.