How climate change is changing the way athletes train ahead of the Winter Olympics

"A live camera pans in every direction along the Rettenbach glacier in Soelden, Austria a way to show the snow status at the resort in the Alps. Instead of blankets of snow everywhere leading into a season-opening World Cup ski race, the images reflected a light dusting thanks to a recent snowfall over the rocks, rubble and dirt. The notable exception was the majestic ribbon of mainly manufactured snow in place for the race last weekend."

"Granted, it's early in the season in Soelden. But this sort of minimal-snow scene is playing out all over the planet. The current images at Copper Mountain in Colorado, which is hosting a series of races next month, show only a light coating of snow. As Earth warms at a record rate, winters are shorter and milder and there is less snow globally, creating clear challenges for winter sports that depend on cold, snowy conditions."

A live camera at the Rettenbach glacier in Soelden, Austria shows only a light dusting of snow over rocks and dirt, with a ribbon of manufactured snow remaining for a World Cup race. Similar minimal-snow scenes appear at Copper Mountain in Colorado. As Earth warms at a record rate, winters are shorter and milder and global snowfall declines, creating challenges for cold-dependent winter sports. With 100 days until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, athletes report climate change shaping training and careers. Some athletes chase snow across regions, increasing air travel and associated carbon emissions, which further warms the planet.

Read at www.bostonherald.com