The Andes, which has always attracted skiers to the South American continent, is facing a historic low in snowfall this year during a decade-long drought that scientists say is the result of global warming.
The sparse rain and snow are leaving many of the majestic mountains, which stretch between Ecuador and Argentina, with irregular patches of snow, or no snow at all, with the brown earth of the peaks exposed.
With rainfall falling and glaciers falling across the region, communities that depend on the mountains for water supplies could suffer from shortages, said Ricardo Villalba, principal researcher at the Argentine Institute of Snow, Glaciers and Environmental Science Studies.
“Here we are seeing a long-term process of falling rainfall, a mega-drought,” said Villalba.
“If we look at the precipitation levels now for the entire mountain range, they show that either it didn’t snow at all, or that it snowed very little,” the scientist pointed out.
The Southern Hemisphere is currently going through winter, when it should be the height of snowfall.
Ski resorts have reopened after lengthy closures during the pandemic, and are attracting homesick skiers to the Argentine-Chilean border. But sparse snow is forcing many resorts to haul snow to cover more popular slopes or make artificial snow.
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