Timpanogos Rock Glacier beneath Mount Timpanogos contains roughly 1.5 million cubic meters of frozen water, according to a study published Aug. 26 in the Journal of Geophysical Research. University of Utah geologists used a 3D Bayesian inversion of high-precision gravity data to reveal that the massive debris-covered formation is 83% ice and 17% loose rock.
How University of Utah Geologists Mapped Hidden Ice on Mount Timpanogos
Conventional glaciers display exposed sheets of ice, but rock glaciers resemble sprawling fields of loose rock and rubble that conceal vast frozen reserves underneath. To uncover what lies beneath the surface, former graduate student Bronson Cvijanovich led six field trips during the fall of 2024 to collect gravity measurements above Emerald Lake, according to the University of Utah. Cvijanovich gathered data at 232 locations arranged in a 25-meter grid using a state-of-the-art gravimeter.
Because rock is substantially denser than ice, the sensitive instrument detected tiny variations in gravitational acceleration. Tighter gravity decreases corresponded directly to thicker underground ice layers. Department of Geology & Geophysics professor Michael Thorne noted that months of computation time and Bayesian statistics allowed the research team to build a comprehensive 3D image of the internal structure, comparing the gravity technique to a medical CT scanner revealing bone and tissue beneath the skin.
Comparing Utah’s Mountain Water Reserves and Global Estimates
The 1.5 million cubic meters of frozen water inside Timpanogos Rock Glacier equals about 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or a volume comparable to the largest pyramid at Giza in Egypt, according to researcher Bronson Cvijanovich. Glaciology professor Leif Anderson pointed out that hikers walking across high-altitude rubble often fail to realize up to 120 feet of solid ice sits directly beneath their boots.
By establishing a relationship between surface area and stored ice volume across Utah’s 836 identified rock glaciers, the team scaled their calculations globally. According to the findings, roughly 50,000 known rock glaciers worldwide may collectively contain about 48 gigatons of water—equivalent to 400,000 Olympic swimming pools per gigaton. Within Utah alone, these hidden reservoirs may hold approximately 1 gigaton, or 815,000 acre-feet, of fresh water.
Did you know?
Unlike Ice Age remnants, Utah’s rock glaciers are not leftover features from the Ice Age. Mathematical modeling published in Geophysical Research Letters on April 2, 2026, shows that seasonal rockfalls from steep valley walls continuously bury persistent snowbanks, protecting the snow from summer melting and incorporating it into the expanding ice core over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rock glacier?
A rock glacier is a slowly moving mountain formation that looks like a surface field of loose boulders and debris but actually conceals massive quantities of frozen water and ice-rich cores beneath the rubble.
How much ice is inside Timpanogos Rock Glacier?
According to University of Utah geologists, the Timpanogos Rock Glacier contains about 1.5 million cubic meters of frozen water, with the core measuring 83% ice and 17% rock.
Are rock glaciers left over from the Ice Age?
No. Research led by the University of Utah demonstrates that these formations developed during the millennia following the last Ice Age as ongoing mountain erosion and rockfalls buried persistent snowpacks.
How did scientists measure the hidden ice without digging?
Researchers collected 232 precise gravity measurements across the surface using a gravimeter. Because ice is much less dense than surrounding mountain rock, gravitational pull decreases over thicker ice deposits, allowing scientists to model the interior in three dimensions.
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