The popularity of alpine skiing is still increasing in the Alps. Consequently, the demand for bigger ski resorts and for broad and levelled ski slopes is rising, too. The reconstruction of entire slopes has become normality in many regions. As a result, the soil structure is strongly influenced and new vegetation needs to be sown often followed by enhanced erosion. Hence, it is reasonable to ask to what extent those construction measures impact on the affected soils and its role within the ecosystem. Therefore, soil pit information along transects from the subalpine to the alpine zone in four ski resorts in the Aosta valley was collected. Per site, one profile on the ski slope and a reference profile next to the ski slope were analysed. By means of soil function evaluation, it was tried to assess the effects of ski slope reconstruction on soils and thus, their functionality. The soil function evaluation was performed with the tool SEPP (Soil Evaluation for Planning Procedures), which was developed by the Department of Geography at the University of Innsbruck and firstly introduced by Gruber et al. (2019). According to the calculations, most soil functions are not significantly lowered but stay similar or are even enhanced by creating a ski slope, which are quite unexpected results. Ski slopes provide a better habitat for drought-tolerant species and their ability to reduce surface runoff is enhanced. A clear impairment of function fulfilment is observed regarding carbon storage. In addition to the presentation of methods, study area and results, two central questions will be discussed: Where are the limitations of the SEPP tool, which is based on methods that were developed for non-mountainous areas, and how could it be adapted to better reflect properties and functionality of high mountain soils? Gruber, Fabian; Schaber, Elisabeth; Baruck, Jasmin; Geitner, Clemens (2019): How and to What Extent Does Topography Control the Results of Soil Function Assessment. A Case Study From the Alps in South Tyrol (Italy). In Soil Syst. 3 (1), p. 18. DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems3010018.

The impact of ski slope reconstruction : an approach by means of soil function evaluation / E. Schaber, C. Geitner, M.E. D'Amico, E. Pintaldi, M. Freppaz, S. Stanchi, C. Hudek. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Eurosoil tenutosi a Genève nel 2021.

The impact of ski slope reconstruction : an approach by means of soil function evaluation

M.E. D'Amico
Secondo
;
2021

Abstract

The popularity of alpine skiing is still increasing in the Alps. Consequently, the demand for bigger ski resorts and for broad and levelled ski slopes is rising, too. The reconstruction of entire slopes has become normality in many regions. As a result, the soil structure is strongly influenced and new vegetation needs to be sown often followed by enhanced erosion. Hence, it is reasonable to ask to what extent those construction measures impact on the affected soils and its role within the ecosystem. Therefore, soil pit information along transects from the subalpine to the alpine zone in four ski resorts in the Aosta valley was collected. Per site, one profile on the ski slope and a reference profile next to the ski slope were analysed. By means of soil function evaluation, it was tried to assess the effects of ski slope reconstruction on soils and thus, their functionality. The soil function evaluation was performed with the tool SEPP (Soil Evaluation for Planning Procedures), which was developed by the Department of Geography at the University of Innsbruck and firstly introduced by Gruber et al. (2019). According to the calculations, most soil functions are not significantly lowered but stay similar or are even enhanced by creating a ski slope, which are quite unexpected results. Ski slopes provide a better habitat for drought-tolerant species and their ability to reduce surface runoff is enhanced. A clear impairment of function fulfilment is observed regarding carbon storage. In addition to the presentation of methods, study area and results, two central questions will be discussed: Where are the limitations of the SEPP tool, which is based on methods that were developed for non-mountainous areas, and how could it be adapted to better reflect properties and functionality of high mountain soils? Gruber, Fabian; Schaber, Elisabeth; Baruck, Jasmin; Geitner, Clemens (2019): How and to What Extent Does Topography Control the Results of Soil Function Assessment. A Case Study From the Alps in South Tyrol (Italy). In Soil Syst. 3 (1), p. 18. DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems3010018.
ago-2021
Settore AGR/14 - Pedologia
European Confederation of Soil Science Societies
The impact of ski slope reconstruction : an approach by means of soil function evaluation / E. Schaber, C. Geitner, M.E. D'Amico, E. Pintaldi, M. Freppaz, S. Stanchi, C. Hudek. ((Intervento presentato al convegno Eurosoil tenutosi a Genève nel 2021.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/874762
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