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Scientists Found a Massive Ice Reservoir Hidden Beneath Utah's Rocky Mountains
gizmodo.com • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers from the University of Utah studied the Timpanogos Rock Glacier and found it contains 1.5 million cubic meters of ice, equivalent to 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools, revealing significant hidden water reserves beneath rocky surfaces.
- Rock glaciers, which are ice formations buried under layers of rock, number over 50,000 worldwide, with more than 10,000 in the U.S. and 836 in Utah alone, suggesting a vast but often overlooked source of frozen water.
- Using gravitational measurements at 232 points, scientists created a 3D map showing the Timpanogos Rock Glacier is composed of 83% ice and 17% loose rock, with ice depths reaching up to 150 feet (46 meters).
- The study estimates that Utah’s rock glaciers collectively hold about 1 billion tons (815,000 acre-feet) of water, and evidence suggests these glaciers continue to accumulate ice despite warming climates.
- Rock glaciers may serve as climate-resilient water reservoirs, protected by their rocky layers, and could become vital water sources in arid regions like Utah facing potential shortages.
