Rock Glaciers in Utah

Authors

Scott Hotaling, Utah State UniversityFollow
Kendall Becker, Utah State UniversityFollow
Matthew Morriss, Utah Geological Survey

Document Type

Factsheet

Publisher

Utah State University Extension

Publication Date

6-4-2024

First Page

1

Last Page

4

Abstract

Utah’s primary water supply––winter snowpack––is in decline due to climate warming coupled with more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow. As snowpack dwindles, other sources of cold stream water, such as rock glaciers, will become more important. Rock glaciers contain significant volumes of internal ice covered by debris. This internal ice provides cold meltwater to mountain streams, sustaining flows in summer and supporting biodiversity. Rock glaciers are common in Utah’s mountains and are projected to be more stable under climate change than Utah’s snowpack. Thus, rock glaciers are likely to persist in their current form even as snowpack volumes continue to decrease. Because rock glaciers may provide a critical, climate-resilient water source for Utah, more research is needed to quantify their relevance for present and future water availability and ecosystems.

Recommended Citation

Hotaling, S., Becker, K., & Morriss, M. (2024). Rock glaciers in Utah [Fact sheet]. Utah State University Extension.