Professor unveils plan to wrap ski slopes in bubble wrap to prevent snow melting and extend season

A scientist has found a bizarre way to stop the snow on Scots ski slopes melting - by cloaking them in bubble wrap. Scotland's five major ski resorts are badly hit when temperatures rise and melt the snow or high winds blow it off the pistes. But Professor John McClatchey believes he may have found a solution.

He has experimented using sheets of bubble wrap to preserve the snow and avoid bare patches. Prof McClatchey, who works for the University of the Highland and Island's Environmental Research Institute, has found that ordinary bubble wrap stops snow melting as quickly and prevents it from being blown away. The wrap becomes even more effective if painted silver to reflect sunlight.



The professor examined a study of snowfall patterns on Cairn Gorm, which showed its ski centre lost an average of two days' skiing a year over the last 30 years due to milder winters. Nevis Range, Glencoe, Glenshee and The Lecht have experienced similar losses. Now Prof McClatchey believes using bubble wrap may stop snow vanishing for long enough to allow resorts to extend the season for at least one or two lucrative weekends.

He said: "I was able to show that wind speed plays a significant role in the melt. It means, in future, if the weather is warmer and windier, the snow will disappear faster." Ski resort managers have said they will now consider using bubble wrap in patches where receding snow was forcing them to close.