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Lack of snow in Gulmarg, Western Himalayas

Earth Observation | Copernicus
Heat Waves
Lack of snow in Gulmarg, Western Himalayas
Location: Western Himalayas
Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

Gulmarg is a popular ski destination in the Western Himalayas.

After an unprecedentedly warm season with only one day of snow in December 2023 and none in January, it is suffering from an almost complete lack of snow. This has a serious impact on the economy of local communities that rely on winter sports tourism.

The lack of snow cover can be observed by comparing these images of the Gulmarg area, acquired by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites in January 2023 (left) and 2024 (right).

Data from the Copernicus satellites allow to monitor snow cover around the world.
 

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