Utah, With Researchers Estimating That Roughly 1 Billion Tons of Ice Could Be Stored Under Rock Formations in the State's Mountainous Areas

Researchers at the University of Utah examined thousands of rock glaciers and similar formations across the state to calculate how much water they contain. Known as 'glacial rock formations, these structures look like ordinary piles of stone and rock from the outside, but beneath the thick rock layer, large amounts of frozen water can be found. One of the most notable features of rock glaciers is that the ice is not directly exposed to sunlight.

The thick layer of stone and rock covering them acts as an insulating blanket, protecting the ice from temperature fluctuations far better than exposed snow and glaciers. As a result, some rock glaciers can preserve frozen water for hundreds or even thousands of years, making it nearly impossible to detect the massive ice mass from the surface. The study's key finding is that these hidden ice reserves are not merely geological formations.

The ice slowly melts over time, seeping into surrounding streams and groundwater systems. This could become increasingly important during periods of reduced snowfall and hotter summers, when water resources are under greater strain. Researchers noted that more detailed studies are needed to understand how much of the region's water supply rock glaciers could support in the future.

In areas like Utah, where drought is a significant concern, water stored in mountains holds great importance. The new study demonstrates that ice beneath rock layers, which has not been adequately accounted for in previous water reserve calculations, stores a significant amount of water.