Our current warming trend began in the late 17th century, but glaciers could not begin to retreat until the atmosphere had warmed sufficiently to allow summer ice loss to exceed winter accumulations.
That glacial “tipping point” occurred in the early 1800s. Thus, began nearly two centuries of worldwide glacial retreat that continues today.
Glacier Bay is located in southeastern Alaska and is home to what may be some of the most viewed glaciers in the world, as it is a highlight of many Alaskan cruise ship itineraries. Here, I have attached the history of glacial retreat that began at the end of the 18th century, some 150 years before we began adding significant CO2 to our atmosphere.
