Great Salt Lake
The discovery confirms the theory about the emergence of islands covered in joints, which indicated that there was fresh water in the area.
According to a new report published in Scientific Reports, a vast underground reservoir of freshwater may be hidden beneath the salty waters of the Great Salt Lake.
Scientists at the University of Utah used airborne electromagnetic (AEM) technology to scan part of the southeast shore of the lakefocusing on the Farmington Bay Area. The method allows researchers to distinguish between saltwater and freshwater by measuring electrical conductivity, as well as mapping underground rock formations, explains .
Their findings suggest the existence of a large body of fresh waterpreviously unknown, trapped in the sediments beneath the lake bed. “We were able to answer the question about the depth of this potential reserve and its spatial extent under the eastern shore of the lake,” said the geophysicist Michael Zhdanov. “If you know the depth, width and pore space, you can calculate the potential volume of freshwater.”
The team estimates that the reserve could extend between three and four kilometers below the surfacealthough only a small portion of the lake has been mapped to date. Researchers say a full scan is needed to confirm the full extent and reach of the groundwater.
Although scientists already suspected the existence of freshwater beneath the lake due to the appearance of , the scale of the discovery was unexpected. “What is surprising is that fresh groundwater extends far into the lake and possibly throughout its entire length. We don’t know for sure,” said hydrologist Bill Johnson.
The discovery comes as the Great Salt Lake faces decreasing water levels, exposing lakebed sediments that release dust into nearby communities. This dust may contain toxic metalsposing health risks. Researchers believe fresh groundwater can help mitigate the problem by moistening exposed areas.
“There are beneficial effects of this groundwater that we need to understand before we extract more from it,” warned Johnson. “A primary objective is to understand whether we could use this fresh water to moisten critical dust spots and dissipate them significantly without disturbing the freshwater ecosystem too much.”
