Alaska Iditrot to the Winter Olympic Games, Climate change is at risk Many winter sports traditions. Some people were able to modify Temperature and unpredictable snow increases, but a very deep Dutch tradition may disappear.
Elphstone, or ‘Return to eleven cities’, This is a famous skating race More than 200 kilometers and a rest trail that naturally blows through ice cream in the Freisia region in the north of the Netherlands. But from the last edition of 2025, they will be 28 years old. Study New study of climateThe chances of coming back to repeat are rapidly decreasing.
A tradition celebrated once in four years can now be repeated once a generation.
Elphstendoch should have the right conditions. To create adequate coldIn adequate time, the snow receives 15 centimeters thick, So you can withstand the pressure of 15,000 skaters Fans attending the event.
Build That Dew Dense And in combination with stable, dry conditions, the temperature less than 4.2 ° C should be at least 15 days. In the twentieth century, you can expect an elfstendod Every four or five years. According to a new study published in ‘Climate Change’, Elphstatecot can now take place only once 32 years.
Hans Wisser Y. Arthur Peterson, Two researchers In this study, the Royal Weather Company of the Netherlands (KNMI) was alerted to The heating of the planetThis causes destruction in the weather system, making it more difficult to achieve better conditions.
A cultural icon in thin ice
From its official foundation in 1909, the Elphstonedog was held only 15 times and was the last in 1997. Since then, as in 2012, there are many occasions when it is conducted, but GaleesNever They were frozen Enough. “We have some more different case. Like 2012, when we reached an Elphstonedog,” Haylke de Vreese said from a Volksgraft KNMI.
“But the winter of the previous weeks is not too coldAnd the water was still relatively hot. It takes a few more days to disable everything. “Nevadaas can also make snow, but the snow does not turn into a high thickness.”
Other models that use different forecasting techniques are slightly high Confidence About Elphstone. KNM assesses that the optimal conditions can occur once in 14 years. But researchers agree on a subject: if the emission Greenhouse gasesElphstandog will become the monument of the past.
Yes Emuse They are reduced Severely, the probability of an elphstinecott will be almost in the coming decades. If the emission increases, there is no other elptendoch at the end of this century, the study found. “Opportunities for being delivered .
Winter sports are threatened everywhere
Netland Not just those who face winter problems. Across Europe and outside, Winter sports They are increasingly affected by climate change. According to the World Meteorological Organization 2024 report, only 10 countries will have a perspective Climatic For snow games in 2040.
Activists also take note of how ski stations and sports events contribute to the problem. Last year, a group calculated itSupport The Skiing World Cup will contribute to the equivalent of 103,000-144,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide to highlight the Audi environmental conflicts of the World Cup.
In the meantime, alpine regions invest in a lotArtificial iceA process that is used in a lot of money, energy and water and other infrastructure improvements to keep skiing seasons. But for events such as ElphstenTog, there is no synthetic solution. It is no natural snow or nothing.
