Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
HESS
Articles | Volume 27, issue 23
Articles | Volume 27, issue 23
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4257-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4257-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 27, issue 23
Research article
 | Highlight paper
 | 
04 Dec 2023
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 04 Dec 2023

Simulated hydrological effects of grooming and snowmaking in a ski resort on the local water balance

Samuel Morin, Hugues François, Marion Réveillet, Eric Sauquet, Louise Crochemore, Flora Branger, Étienne Leblois, and Marie Dumont

Data sets

Simulated hydrological effects of grooming and snowmaking in a ski resort on the local water balance [Data set] S. Morin, H. François, M. Réveillet, E. Sauquet, L. Crochemore, F. Branger, E. Leblois, and M. Dumont https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8408515

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Executive editor
This paper is relevant and can be of interest for a wider audience. It is important that the effects of artificial snow on hydrology and water resources is discussed in a more technical, hydrological forum, like HESS. The paper shows important and sound conclusions which are relevant in the societal discussion on the effects of snowmaking.
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Short summary
Ski resorts are a key socio-economic asset of several mountain areas. Grooming and snowmaking are routinely used to manage the snow cover on ski pistes, but despite vivid debate, little is known about their impact on water resources downstream. This study quantifies, for the pilot ski resort La Plagne in the French Alps, the impact of grooming and snowmaking on downstream river flow. Hydrological impacts are mostly apparent at the seasonal scale and rather neutral on the annual scale.
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