Modern Climate Change and Mountain Skiing Tourism: the Alps and the Caucasus

Relevance of the research of modern climate change is beyond all doubts at the moment. Climate is, first of all, a significant share of any country s resources. Losses due to global climate change can affect virtually all branches of economy and social aspects, including energy production, eco-systems, agriculture, forests, construction, transport, tourism etc. Climate change imposes certain mode of economy, a strategy of economy s development years ahead. According to forecasts, for example the one of European environmental agency (EEA), one of the first hostages of climate change will be winter tourism and alpine skiing resorts. Climate change seriously influences incomes of countries and certain regions located in mountain areas and developing winter sports. Yet, forecasts of climatologists on modern climate change trends are ambiguous and sometimes controversial. For this reason definite scientific and practical interest is raised by research in climate change trends in mountain areas based on mostly state network of meteorological stations.