Located just uphill from White Pine Lake in Utah, a wall of loose rocks conceals hidden glacier ice. This phenomenon is not unique to this area alone.
In the western United States, over 10,000 rock glaciers exist. However, their appearance often disguises their true nature. Unlike the familiar snowy glaciers, these rock-covered glaciers receive less research and can blend into their surroundings.
Despite their disguise, rock glaciers hold a glimmer of hope in addressing climate concerns. Beneath their rocky exterior lies glacier ice, providing potential water reserves.
For further exploration, science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce offers additional insights. Those interested in the hidden aspects of the natural world can contact at [email protected] for more information.
You can listen to the Short Wave podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. To support NPR’s work, consider subscribing to Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave. This episode involved contributions from producer Jessica Yung, editor Rebecca Ramirez, fact-checker Tyler Jones, and audio engineer Patrick Murray.
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