Examining the variability of rock glacier meltwater in space and time in high-elevation environments of Utah, United States

Rock glaciers are common geomorphic features in alpine landscapes and comprise a potentially significant but poorly quantified water resource. This project focused on three complementary questions germane to rock glacier hydrology: 1) Does the composition of meltwater vary from year year? 2) How dependent is lithology? And 3) does presence catchment change stream chemistry? To address these questions, we deployed automated samplers collect late June through mid-October 2022 two rock-glacierized mountain ranges Utah, United States characterized by different lithologies. In Uinta Mountains northern where bedrock predominantly quartzite, was collected at springs discharging previously shown release summer sourced internal ice. La Sal southeastern trachyte widespread, spring, along main watershed containing multiple glaciers, absent. Precipitation also collected, data loggers for temperature electric conductivity were deployed. Water samples analyzed stable isotopes with cavity ring-down spectroscopy hydrochemistry ICP-MS. Our show that exhibits shift snowmelt source an ice over course melt season consistent year. We found chemistry study areas notably ways can be linked back their contrasting types. Finally, Mountains, properties basin resemble strongly contrast lacking glaciers. Collectively results underscore role as agent influencing high-elevation systems.