In the Rocky Mountains, melting ice has uncovered a stunning find: a perfectly preserved ancient forest. This forest has remained frozen for thousands of years, tucked away beneath ice at the Beartooth Plateau, which stands over 10,000 feet high.
About 5,500 years ago, a rapid drop in temperatures encased a forest of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) in ice, keeping the trees in remarkable condition. As climate change causes these ice patches to melt, researchers are gaining valuable insights into this ancient landscape. Their findings were shared in the journal PNAS.
David McWethy, a research professor at Montana State University, noted that many were unaware these ice patches had existed for millennia. He said the landscape looked very different back when the forest thrived.
This forest once teemed with life, existing at higher elevations than current whitebark pines in the area. After the last ice age, a warm climate allowed the forest to flourish, but it eventually faced cooling conditions that led to its demise.
The ecosystem was likely home to various animals and the humans who hunted them. Among the findings from the ice patch, McWethy’s team discovered a wooden shaft dating back about 10,000 years, believed to be part of a hunting spear.
Cathy Whitlock, another researcher, highlighted the dynamic nature of this alpine ecosystem. She emphasized that it supported both people and wildlife throughout history. Today, the landscape may appear beautiful and stark, but it carries the history of a once-thriving environment.
The gradual cooling of the climate played a role in the trees’ death. McWethy explained that volcanic eruptions added ash to the atmosphere, increasing cooling and leading to the rapid freezing of the forest. This trapped the trees in ice, preserving them until now.
McWethy described the trees as looking like they belong in a windswept area—bark-less but otherwise well-preserved. The ice has acted as a protective layer, preventing decay.
Philip Mote, a climate scientist, remarked that discovering a frozen forest is unusual and indicated that there are likely many other treasures buried under the ice.
Climate change, largely caused by human activities, is intensifying warming in high-elevation regions like Beartooth Plateau. As more ice melts, there are opportunities to learn about the past, but Whitlock points out that these findings come with a cautionary tale about the fragility of alpine ecosystems.
In summary, the melting ice in the Rocky Mountains is yielding exciting scientific discoveries, but it also serves as a poignant reminder of the impacts of climate change.
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