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Deep in the state of Sierra mountain range, massive glaciers are vanishing and projected to melt away entirely by the beginning of the next century, resulting in ice-free peaks for the initial occasion in human history, recent studies has found.

Age-Old Origins of Sierra Range Ice Masses

The range's ice sheets are older than previously known, dating back many thousands of years, with some as ancient as the most recent glacial period, according to an article released last week.

“Our reconstructed glacial history shows that a future ice-free Sierra Nevada is without precedent in the history of humankind since documented peopling of the Americas around twenty thousand years ago,” the article states.

Worldwide Threat to Ice Formations

Ice masses around the world are under threat during the climate crisis. A study released in May of the current year determined that almost forty percent of glaciers are destined to melt because of global heating. If such heating increases by 2.7C, which the world is presently on track for, as up to seventy-five percent will vanish, leading to sea level rise and large-scale relocation.

Across the American west, ice formations have diminished significantly since they were first documented in the late 19th century, according to the article.

Focus on Key Ice Bodies

The recent study centers on four Sierra Nevada glacial masses – the Conness, Maclure, Lyell and Palisade ice sheets – that are among the largest and likely oldest in the mountain chain. Their longevity amid global heating makes them “indicators” for examining ice loss in the western region, the article states.

Study Techniques and Results

Researchers examined recently exposed base rock around the ice formations and collected specimens to ascertain how long the region was covered by ice. They determined that the ice masses have enveloped swaths of the range for much longer than earlier believed – since before people occupied North America.

The state's glacial sheets attained their peak extents as early as thirty thousand years ago, the article’s authors wrote, and a particular of the ice bodies experts studied is believed to have grown seven thousand years ago, earlier than previously believed. The disappearance of ice formations, for the initial time in recorded history, shows the profound impacts of the climate change, one author of the investigation said.

Environmental and Symbolic Consequences

“We’ll be the initial ones to see the ice-free peaks,” said the study's lead researcher, the study’s lead author. “This has ecological ramifications for flora and fauna. And it’s a symbolic loss. Climate change is highly intangible, but these glaciers are tangible. They’re symbolic elements of the American West.”