Snowless French Ski Area Considers Future in Warming World

 

France is experiencing an unusually moderate¹ winter, which has led to low snowfall in ski areas across the country.

One affected² ski area is Le Mourtis, in the Pyrenees mountains of southern France. The lack of snow has forced the resort³ to temporarily close its ski runs -- at the height of the winter season.

Local restaurants and hotels are seeing fewer visitors. People who do come to the area are seeking to do other things besides skiing. Warmer temperatures have made hiking one of the most popular activities.

Recent daytime temperatures at Le Mourtis have reached 10 degrees Celsius⁴. Some hikers even removed winter clothing while making their way across mountain areas containing very little snow.

"Skiing? No one today can guarantee it," said hotel operator⁵ François Gillaizeau. "If the snow is not here, we have to sell something else." He has been making money by renting out two-wheeled scooters to help visitors in the area have fun.

The scooters can be ridden down grassy⁶ mountain hills. They come with equipment made for riding on snow, but Gillaizeau has attached bicycle wheels instead.

His ski rental⁷ equipment remains⁸ untouched. He says he has had to reduce the hours of some workers and expects business losses during the season to drop as much as 15 percent.

Many people in the area believe the latest winter is more than just a bad year. The last time France experienced⁹ such a mild December and January was in 1900, French weather officials say.

Christelle Robert is an official with Meteo-France, the country's national weather service. She told Reuters that mild winters and less snow seem to be a clear sign of global warming.

Scientists have predicted a continued rise in world temperatures. People connected to the area's ski industry are considering a future with much less snow. If such weather continues, ski resorts¹⁰ around 1,600 meters above sea level will be so warm that they will not even be able to use artificial¹¹ snow because it will melt.

Some of the higher Pyrenees resorts did receive enough snow recently to open for business. But the Le Mourtis resort sits at 1,350 meters, putting it in a so-called¹² melt area.

"It's the second year in a row that we've had no snow," said Laurent Morel, a visitor from the city of Toulouse who was walking on the mountainside with his family. "We love the mountains so we come anyway."

Words in This Story

ski – v. to move over snow wearing skis (a pair of long, think pieces of wood of plastic worn on the bottom of boots

resort – n. a place where many people go for vacation

hiking – n. go for a long walk in the countryside or mountains

rent – v. to pay to use something for a short time

scooter – n. a small vehicle that has wheels attached to a long board and handle

mild – adj. not extreme

global – adj. relating to the whole world

artificial – n. not natural, but made by people

1 moderate   

adj.适度的，稳健的，温和的，中等的；v.节制，使...稳定，使...缓和；n.稳健的人

参考例句：

• You should moderate your language when children are present.在孩子面前，你说话应该有节制。
• The wind is moderate today.今天的风很柔和。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 resort   

n.凭借，手段，常去之地，胜地；vi.求助，诉诸，采取（某种手段等），常去

参考例句：

• He couldn't have passed the exam without resort to cheating.他要不是靠作弊是通不过这次考试的。
• Beidaihe is noted for its summer resort.北戴河以避暑胜地而著称。

4 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

5 operator   

n.（机器、设备等的）操作员；电话接线员

参考例句：

• He is a computer operator.他是个电脑操作员。
• The telephone operator connected us.话务员给我们接通了电话。

6 grassy   

adj.盖满草的；长满草的

参考例句：

• They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside.他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
• Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。

7 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

10 resorts   

n.求助，凭借，诉诸( resort的名词复数 )；求助[凭借]的对象；采用的办法；度假胜地v.求助于或诉诸某事物，采取某手段或方法应急或作为对策( resort的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Ferry boats ply regularly between all the resorts on the lake. 渡船定时往返于湖的各旅游景点。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other resorts could benefit from the spillover of tourists. 其他度假胜地可以从游客带来的影响中间受益。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 artificial   

adj.人工的，人造的，人为的；做作的，假装的

参考例句：

• The new dam will form a large artificial lake behind it.新筑的水坝将会在后面形成一个人工湖。
• We don't use any artificial flavourings in our products.我们的产品不使用任何人工调味剂。

12 so-called   

adj.所谓的，号称的

参考例句：

• These were the so-called mainframe machines.它们被称为主机。
• Let's see what this so-called button does.让我们来看看为什么这个按钮叫这个名字。