See film to learn more about climate
I enjoyed my sixth day of skiing recently at Purgatory. Despite the lack of natural snowfall, they have made enough man-made snow to create a fantastic skiing experience.
Skiing is one of the main reasons I relocated to Durango. I cannot help but think if this winter might be the new normal and of the implications that has for our community.
In a recent article published in Inside Climate News, the author points out research done by University of Colorado hydrologist Keith Musselman. He has studied how sensitive mountain snowpack is to global warming. Analyzing an extensive dataset from the western flank of the Sierra, he found that the snowpack shrinks by 10 percent for every 1 degree (Celsius) of warming.
Climate scientists say snow seasons like the West is experiencing now will become more common in the next few decades. If winter snows don’t come, there won’t be much water to fill the reservoirs and provide drinking water and water to irrigate our farms. Wildfires might become more prevalent.
Look at California. Last winter, they received huge amounts of precipitation, followed by dry conditions that fueled extensive wildfires and left huge areas of dead hills prone to mudslides.
If you are interested in learning how our community can pull together and reverse these dangers, you are invited to attend the free film screening of “Saving Snow.”
The Durango Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby will show the film at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at Durango Public Library.
Louise van Vonno
Durango
