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Far in the state of Sierra mountain range, massive ice formations are disappearing and projected to dissolve completely by the beginning of the coming hundred years, leaving ice-free peaks for the initial occasion in recorded human existence, recent studies has found.

Ancient Origins of Sierra Nevada Ice Masses

The mountain range’s glaciers are older than earlier understood, dating back tens of thousands of years, with a few as ancient as the last ice age, according to an article released recently.

“Our reconstructed glacial history shows that a future glacier-free Sierra Nevada is without precedent in the history of humankind since known settlement of the Americas ~20,000 years ago,” the study declares.

Global Threat to Glaciers

Glaciers globally are under threat amid the climate emergency. A study published in the month of May of this year found that nearly 40% of glaciers are destined to thaw because of global heating. If this warming increases by 2.7C, which the planet is presently on track for, as up to seventy-five percent will disappear, causing sea level rise and mass displacement.

Throughout the American west, ice formations have diminished significantly since they were initially recorded in the late 19th century, according to the article.

Concentration on Key Ice Bodies

The new research focuses on four Sierra Nevada glaciers – the Palisade, Lyell, Maclure and Conness glaciers – that are among the largest and likely most ancient in the range. Their longevity amid global heating makes them “bellwethers” for studying ice loss in the west, the article notes.

Study Techniques and Findings

Scientists examined recently exposed bedrock around the ice formations and took samples to ascertain how long the region was covered by glacial ice. They found that the glaciers have enveloped swaths of the range for much longer than earlier believed – since prior to humans occupied North America.

The state's glacial sheets attained their peak extents as long ago as 30,000 years ago, the study's researchers stated, and one of the ice bodies experts looked at is believed to have grown 7,000 years ago, sooner than previously believed. The loss of glaciers, for the first time in recorded history, demonstrates the dramatic impacts of the climate change, one author of the investigation said.

Ecological and Representational Impact

“We’ll be the initial ones to witness the glacier-less summits,” said Andrew Jones, the study’s lead author. “This has environmental implications for flora and fauna. And it’s a symbolic loss. Climate change is highly intangible, but these ice masses are tangible. They’re iconic features of the American West.”