On the demise of Whistler, Horstman and Blackcomb Glaciers, southwest British Columbia, Canada: historical use, recent change and future prospects within a mountain resort

Chloé Monty , Gwenn Elizabeth Flowers, Jeffrey W Crompton, Brian Menounos, Caleb Mathias

Atmospheric warming is causing glaciers worldwide to retreat and disappear, with repercussions for nearby communities. Effects of glacier retreat have been especially consequential for mountain resorts such as Whistler Blackcomb, Canada, where almost 60 years of summer glacier use has been terminated due to the ongoing demise of Whistler, Horstman and Blackcomb Glaciers. Over the past five decades, Whistler, Horstman and Blackcomb Glaciers decreased in area by 95%, 75% and 60%, respectively. Using a positive degree-day model with downscaled CMIP6 data we project that Whistler Glacier will disappear within the next decade, whereas Horstman and Blackcomb Glaciers will vanish in the next 10–50 and 20–70 years, respectively. Our work implies that ski resorts that rely on glaciers will need to balance current ice preservation strategies with adaptation in light of future climate change.