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A rock glacier beneath Mount Timpanogos in Utah contains about 1.5 million cubic metres of frozen water, equivalent to roughly 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to new research by University of Utah scientists.
Unlike conventional glaciers, rock glaciers are covered by layers of loose rock and may conceal large amounts of ice beneath the surface. They are widespread across Utah’s Wasatch and Uinta ranges and can also be found in the La Sal Mountains near Moab.
Researchers conducted two studies of the Timpanogos Rock Glacier to determine how it formed and measure the amount of ice hidden beneath its rocky surface. Using highly sensitive gravity measurements, they created a three-dimensional picture of the buried ice.
The findings show that the glacier is about 83% ice and 17% loose rock. Researchers said the volume of frozen water is roughly comparable to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Former University of Utah graduate student Bronson Cvijanovich led fieldwork at the glacier in autumn 2024. Over six trips, he collected gravity measurements at 232 locations arranged in a grid, with each point about 25 metres apart.
The team used a high-precision gravimeter to detect tiny differences in gravitational acceleration caused by variations in density. Because rock is considerably denser than ice, areas containing thicker layers of buried ice produce a measurable reduction in gravitational pull.
Researchers then accounted for other factors, including changes caused by the positions of the sun and moon, terrain, latitude and elevation, to develop a detailed model of the glacier’s hidden ice.
Geologists say the findings highlight the significant amount of water stored in Utah’s mountain landscapes that is not visible from the surface.
Leif Anderson, a glaciology professor involved in the research, said people walking across loose rocks in the mountains may not realise that large quantities of ice could be buried more than 120 feet below them.