The Ice is Melting!

1/19/25 MSN reports on how rising temperatures are melting an ice field in the Rockies that is Exposing an as ancient forest:

Melting alpine ice in the Rocky Mountains has led to the discovery of a 5,900-year-old whitebark pine forest.

Over 30 trees are estimated to have been found by scientists during an archaeological survey on the Beartooth plateau in Wyoming.

The newly uncovered trees are located at 3,100 metres sea level which is 180 metres higher than the present tree line.

But what does this recent find mean for researchers?

According to Cathy Whitlock at Montana State University, it "offers us a window into past conditions at high elevations since you won't see Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) growing at this elevation today - that's because the climate was warmer back when these trees grew".

It is thought the trees lived 5950 to 5440 years ago when temperatures were gradually decreasing and to establish this timeline of the forest's history and age, the team analysed their rings and used carbon dating.

We are just now returning to temperatures of 4000 BC.  Obviously, this is because SUVs and jets are a problem.