Western US glaciers lose one-third of cover since 1950

A new study published in the journal of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that six western US states have lost more than one-third of their glacial cover since the 1950s. Researchers from Portland State University and the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a comprehensive inventory of 1,331 glaciers across California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

Comparing current data to historical USGS mapping from 1950 to 1980, the study found that the total glacier area in the West has shrunk by 35%, while volume has decreased by 33%. Of the more than 1,450 glaciers recorded in the mid-20th century, nearly one-quarter have disappeared entirely, totaling more than 300 lost glaciers.

Andrew Fountain, a geology professor at Portland State University who led the study, stated that these losses serve as “tangible evidence of continued climate warming.” The research highlights the impact of rising global temperatures on regional glacial stability.