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Far in the state of Sierra mountain range, enormous ice formations are vanishing and expected to melt away entirely by the start of the next century, leaving ice-free peaks for the first time in recorded human existence, recent studies has found.

Age-Old Beginnings of Sierra Nevada Ice Masses

The range's ice sheets are more ancient than previously known, dating back tens of thousands of years, with a few as ancient as the most recent glacial period, according to an article released recently.

“Our reconstructed ice age record shows that a future 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.

Worldwide Risk to Ice Formations

Glaciers globally are at risk during the climate crisis. A research released in May of this year determined that almost forty percent of ice sheets are doomed to melt because of climate warming. If this warming increases by 2.7C, which the planet is currently on course for, as many as seventy-five percent will disappear, leading to sea level rise and large-scale relocation.

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

Concentration on Key Glaciers

The new research focuses on four Sierra Nevada glacial masses – the Palisade, Lyell, Maclure and Conness ice sheets – that are among the biggest and probably oldest in the range. Their durability amid climate warming makes them “bellwethers” for studying ice loss in the western region, the article notes.

Research Methods and Findings

Researchers looked at newly uncovered base rock around the ice formations and took samples to determine how long the area was blanketed by ice. They found that the glaciers have enveloped swaths of the range for far longer than earlier believed – since before humans inhabited North America.

The state's glaciers reached their peak extents as long ago as 30,000 years ago, the study's researchers stated, and a particular of the ice bodies researchers looked at is believed to have expanded 7,000 years ago, sooner than previously believed. The disappearance of ice formations, for the initial time in human history, shows the profound effects of the climate change, a researcher of the study said.

Ecological and Symbolic Impact

“We’ll be the first to witness the ice-free peaks,” said the study's lead researcher, the study’s lead author. “This has environmental ramifications for flora and fauna. And it’s a representational decline. Global warming is highly intangible, but these ice masses are tangible. They’re iconic features of the American West.”