Glaciers' ages also differ vastly ... a valuable scientific history of the planet's climates. Our Planet Now & Then is a monthly feature that shows how our planet is changing in a warming world ...

"But until now there had been some debate as to whether ... "The key role of these glaciers then is as a buffer against the worst effects of drought, and so the loss of glacier ice can be seen ...

Glaciers have survived through a delicate balance of gain and loss. A new study shows just how much the scale has tipped.