The shrinking snowfall on Greece’s mountains is provoking anxiety and altering the economy
Researchers used 40 years of satellite data to find snow cover is rapidly declining across 10 Greek mountains.
- Researchers found snow cover is rapidly declining across 10 mountains in Greece, with more than half lost since the mid-1980s, confirmed by 40 years of satellite imagery.
- Rising temperatures linked to greenhouse gas emissions are driving the decline, with snow hydrologist Konstantis Alexopoulos stating the observed reduction is not connected to natural climate variability.
- Snow acts like a natural water reservoir; mayor Giannis Stathas noted snowfall on Mount Parnassos at 2,400 meters now matches what once fell at 300 meters.
- Less snow means drier vegetation and increased fire risk, while restaurant owner Aktida Koritou warned that 100 percent of Arachova's water comes from snowmelt.
- The municipality is exploring small dams and snow retention measures to preserve water, while promoting Arachova as a summer destination to sustain the local economy.
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16 Articles
The Toronto Star
The shrinking snowfall on Greece’s mountains is provoking anxiety and altering the economy
ARACHOVA, Greece (AP) — As a child, Giannis Stathas remembers being snowed in for days at a time in Arachova, a village famous for its ski resort and long known
Associated Press News
The shrinking snowfall on Greece's mountains is provoking anxiety and altering the economy
In Arachova, a Greek village reliant on snowmelt, water scarcity is becoming a concern. The local economy, once dependent on winter tourism, is shifting as ski seasons shorten.
Greek mountains are losing their snow at an alarming rate, with snow cover having declined by around 58% since the 1980s, according to a scientific study by the University of Cambridge. This development is not only changing the picture of winter, but is also directly affecting water availability, agriculture and the viability of local economies, as the Associated Press reports on a trip to Arachova. AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis The main cause of…
As a child, Janis Statas remembers being snowed in for days in Arachova, a village famous for its ski resort and long considered the winter playground of the Greeks.
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