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Global warming could be threatening Queenstown's skifields, with snow lines predicted to rise by up to 300m as temperatures climb, according to projections by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa).
Average temperatures are expected to climb by up to 3degC across the region by 2080, accompanied by an increase in precipitation of up to 60 per cent, Niwa principal climate scientist Jim Salinger said yesterday.
Such increases in temperature would drive up the snow line on mountain skifields such as the Remarkables, Treble Cone, Cardrona and Coronet Peak.
With the winter snow line usually between 1000m and 1200m around Queenstown, such a change would see it move above some existing skifield huts.
Coronet Peak's hut, for example, is situated about 1200m up the 1650m mountain.
Dr Salinger said the climatic changes would actually bring more snow to the peaks of skifields at higher altitudes as a result of increased precipitation.
But skifields such as Cardrona and Coronet Peak could expect to see less because of increased temperatures and would have to rely more on snow-making technology.
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
