Snow canons to be used to fight wildfires in Swiss Alps

In Switzerland, climate change is dramatically reshaping the landscape as mountain glaciers shrink at unprecedented speed and dry spells become more frequent, causing concern for the future of the country's woodlands.

In the region of Bernese Oberland the owners of the local ski resort are starting to create artificial snow which can be useful beyond the winter months.

Researchers are starting to explore the possibility of using snow cannons and their related infrastructure to combat one of the newest climate threats in the Alps: forest fires.

Water reserves are an integral feature of a modern ski resort, with dozens of kilometres of underground water pipes feeding them which can be used by fire brigades in the likely event that wildfires become a regular threat in the Swiss Alps