Utah Researchers Reveal Massive Hidden Ice Reserves in Rock Glaciers
A collaborative study by the Utah Geological Survey, Brigham Young University, and the University of Utah has quantified the significant water storage capacity of rock glaciers in Utah. Using gravimetric measurements and 3D modeling, researchers determined that the rock glacier beneath Mount Timpanogos holds approximately 1.55 million cubic meters of ice, equivalent to 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The findings suggest that rock glaciers across the state may store roughly one gigaton of ice, providing a climate-resilient water source that releases meltwater year-round, even during late summer droughts. This hidden reservoir is currently unaccounted for in state hydrological models, highlighting a critical gap in water resource management.
