University of Utah researchers map hidden Utah rock glacier

Researchers from the University of Utah and the Utah Geological Survey have mapped a hidden rock glacier beneath Mount Timpanogos, revealing an ice reservoir capable of filling approximately 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Unlike traditional glaciers, rock glaciers are insulated by thick layers of loose debris, making them difficult to measure with standard radar or excavation. To bypass this, the team utilized a novel technique involving gravity measurements. By detecting minute variations in gravitational acceleration across more than 230 locations, geologists were able to distinguish between the high-density rock and the lower-density ice beneath the surface.

The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, found that the Timpanogos Glacier is composed of roughly 83 percent ice and 17 percent surface rock. The ice core is estimated to be between 30 and 45 meters thick in most areas. Beyond the local findings, the researchers used this data to develop a formula to estimate global rock glacier water content, suggesting there are approximately 48 billion tons of water locked in such formations worldwide.