Glacier Melt Is Set to Glacier-Less Peaks in the Golden State for First Instance in Human History

Far in the state of Sierra mountain range, enormous ice formations are vanishing and projected to dissolve completely by the beginning of the next century, leaving ice-free peaks for the initial occasion in human history, recent studies has found.

Ancient Origins of Sierra Nevada Ice Masses

The mountain range’s glaciers are older than earlier understood, tracing back many thousands of years, with a few as old as the most recent glacial period, according to an article published recently.

“Our pieced-together ice age record indicates that a coming glacier-free Sierra Nevada is without precedent in the history of humankind since documented settlement of the Americas ~20,000 years ago,” the study states.

Global Risk to Ice Formations

Ice masses around the world are under threat amid the climate crisis. A research published in the month of May of the current year determined that nearly 40% of ice sheets are doomed to melt because of climate warming. If this warming rises by 2.7 degrees Celsius, which the planet is presently on course for, as up to 75% will disappear, leading to sea level rise and large-scale relocation.

Throughout the Western United States, ice formations have shrunk substantially since they were initially recorded in the late 19th century, according to the article.

Focus on Major Ice Bodies

The recent study centers on four Sierra Nevada glacial masses – the Palisade, Lyell, Maclure and Conness glaciers – that are some of the biggest and likely oldest in the mountain chain. Their longevity during global heating makes them “bellwethers” for studying glacier disappearance in the western region, the article notes.

Research Methods and Results

Scientists looked at recently exposed bedrock around the ice formations and took samples to determine how long the area was covered by glacial ice. They determined that the ice masses have enveloped swaths of the range for far longer than earlier believed – since prior to people occupied North America.

The state's glaciers attained their peak extents as early as 30,000 years ago, the study's researchers stated, and a particular of the glaciers researchers looked at is thought to have grown 7,000 years ago, sooner than once thought. The disappearance of glaciers, for the first time in recorded history, shows the profound effects of the climate change, one author of the study said.

Ecological and Symbolic Impact

“We’ll be the initial ones to see the glacier-less summits,” said Andrew Jones, the principal investigator. “This has ecological implications for flora and fauna. And it’s a symbolic loss. Climate change is very abstract, but these glaciers are tangible. They’re iconic features of the Western U.S..”