The Cook Mountains ( 79°25′S 158°00′E / 79.417°S 158.000°E / -79.417; 158.000 ) is a group of mountains bounded by the Mulock and Darwin glaciers in Antarctica . They are south of the Worcester Range and north of the Darwin Mountains and the Britannia Range .
79-759: Parts of the group were first viewed from the Ross Ice Shelf by the British National Antarctic Expedition (BrNAE) of 1901–04. Additional portions of these mountains were mapped by a New Zealand party of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (CTAE) of 1956–58, and they were completely mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from tellurometer surveys and US Navy air photos, 1959–63. Named by
158-493: A first exploration of the area by the Discovery Expedition in 1901–1904, Robert Falcon Scott made a significant study of the shelf and its surroundings from his expedition's base on Ross Island . By measurement of calved ice bergs and their buoyancy, he estimated the ice sheet to be on average 274 meters thick; the undisturbed morphology of the ice sheet and its inverted temperature profile led him to conclude it
237-513: A large southern portion of the Ross Sea and the entire Roosevelt Island located in the east of the Ross Sea. The ice shelf is named after Sir James Clark Ross , who discovered it on 28 January 1841. It was originally called "The Barrier", with various adjectives including " Great Ice Barrier ", as it prevented sailing further south. Ross mapped the ice front eastward to 160° W. In 1947,
316-490: A very windy place, which made work outdoors unpleasant. All stores lying in the snow tended to get buried and there was a constant danger of them getting lost. They managed to take a number of journeys to collect seals for the dogs and to scout a route to the south. They used dogs and the Weasel tractor , and four Tucker Sno-Cats . In December 1956, Fuchs returned on Danish Polar vessel Magga Dan with additional supplies, and
395-615: Is 2.5 nautical miles (5 km) west of Fault Bluff and rises 350 metres (1,150 ft) above then ice surface north of the plateau. It was named after Robert L. deZafra , Professor of Physics at the State University of New York, Stony Brook , whose research at the South Pole and McMurdo Sound provided breakthrough contributions to understanding the formation of the Antarctic ozone hole . Isolated features in or near
474-533: Is in use elsewhere in Antarctica, the US-ACAN (1965) recommended that the original name be amended and that the entire line of bluffs be designated as Reeves Bluffs. Not: Mount Reeves. 79°39′S 159°48′E / 79.650°S 159.800°E / -79.650; 159.800 . A steep rock bluff at the south side of the mouth of Carlyon Glacier, 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Cape Murray. Mapped by
553-780: Is pyramid shaped, especially when viewed from the west. Named after the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 18 of May 24, 1975. 79°35′S 159°42′E / 79.583°S 159.700°E / -79.583; 159.700 . Bluff 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Cape Murray on the south side of Carlyon Glacier. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-ACAN for Lt. Cdr. R.K. Fontaine, USN, commander of USS Hissem on ocean station duty in support of aircraft flights between Christchurch and McMurdo Sound, 1963-64. 79°16′S 159°30′E / 79.267°S 159.500°E / -79.267; 159.500 . A range in
632-560: The 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami . Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition ( CTAE ) of 1955–1958 was a Commonwealth -sponsored expedition that successfully completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica , via the South Pole . It was the first expedition to reach the South Pole overland for 46 years, preceded only by Amundsen's expedition and Scott's expedition in 1911 and 1912. In keeping with
711-539: The Finger Ridges . Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-ACAN for Paul Harvey, a member of the U.S. Army aviation support unit for Topo North and Topo South (1961-62) which conducted the tellurometer surveys. 79°31′S 157°23′E / 79.517°S 157.383°E / -79.517; 157.383 . A mountain, 2,250 metres (7,380 ft) hugh, midway between Mount Longhurst and Tentacle Ridge. Discovered by
790-542: The cliffs of Dover ". Ross, who in 1831 had located the North Magnetic Pole , spent the next two years vainly searching for a sea passage to the South Pole; later, his name was given to the ice shelf and the sea surrounding it. Two volcanoes in the region were named by Ross for his vessels. For later Antarctic explorers seeking to reach the South Pole, the Ross Ice Shelf became a starting area. In
869-521: The Air New Zealand DC10 scenic flight to Ross Island, Nov. 28, 1979, when the airplane crashed near Te Puna Roimata Peak (spring of tears peak) on the northeast slope of Mount Erebus, killing all 257 persons aboard. Ross Ice Shelf The Ross Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf of Antarctica (as of 2013 , an area of roughly 500,809 square kilometres (193,363 sq mi) and about 800 kilometres (500 mi) across: about
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#1732791931271948-458: The BrNAE (1901-04) and named for Cyril Longhurst, secretary of the expedition. 79°23′S 156°20′E / 79.383°S 156.333°E / -79.383; 156.333 . A narrow, snow-covered extension of the polar plateau located just west of Mount Longhurst. Rising to 2,200 metres (7,200 ft), it is about 20 miles (32 km) long and 10 miles (16 km) wide, and is bounded on
1027-486: The BrNAE (1901-04) and named for J.F. Hughes, an Honorary Secretary of the Royal Geographical Society, who helped in the preparation for the expedition. 79°26′S 157°18′E / 79.433°S 157.300°E / -79.433; 157.300 . A prominent mountain, 2,845 metres (9,334 ft), standing west of Mill Mountain and forming the highest point of Festive Plateau. Discovered by
1106-613: The Bulletin of the USAPO. The southeast massif extends southwest from Carlyon Glacier to Darwin Glacier. The Ross Ice Shelf is to the East. Feature, from south to north, are: 79°52′S 159°09′E / 79.867°S 159.150°E / -79.867; 159.150 . A conspicuous snow-free hill which is diamond shape in plan, standing 10 miles (16 km) east of Bastion Hill at
1185-551: The Conway Range eastward between Cape Lankester and Hoffman Point to the Ross Ice Shelf. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-ACAN for Cdr. Lloyd W. Bertoglio, USN, commander of the McMurdo Station winter party, 1960. 79°34′S 159°50′E / 79.567°S 159.833°E / -79.567; 159.833 . A large glacier which flows east-south-east from
1264-544: The Cook Mountains between Mulock and Carlyon Glaciers. The range was discovered by the BrNAE (1901-04), but the name appears to be first used in the reports of the BrAE (1907-09). 79°24′S 157°30′E / 79.400°S 157.500°E / -79.400; 157.500 . An ice-covered plateau over 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) high, about 10 by 3 miles (16.1 by 4.8 km), just north of Mount Longhurst in
1343-405: The Cook Mountains. Discovered by the BrNAE (1901-04) under Capt. Robert F. Scott, who gave the name "Mount Reeves," after Edward A. Reeves, Map Curator to the Royal Geographical Society, to a summit along this bluff. The bluff was mapped in detail by USGS from surveys and U.S. Navy aerial photography (1959-63). Since a prominent mountain does not rise from the bluffs, and because the name Mount Reeves
1422-583: The Cook Mountains. Mapped by the Darwin Glacier Party of the CTAE (1956-58) and named for P.O. Mulgrew, chief radio operator at Scott Base, who accompanied Sir Edmund Hillary to the South Pole. 79°39′S 157°57′E / 79.65°S 157.95°E / -79.65; 157.95 The summit (1,600 metres (5,200 ft) high) of Mulgrew Nunatak in the Cook Mountains. Named after New Zealand Antarctic veteran Peter D. Mulgrew. He perished in
1501-422: The Cook Mountains. Named by two members of the Darwin Glacier Party of the CTAE (1956-58) who spent Christmas Day 1957 on the plateau. 79°26′S 157°52′E / 79.433°S 157.867°E / -79.433; 157.867 . A large flat-topped mountain (2,730 m) forming the eastern end of Festive Plateau. This mountain was probably sighted by the BrNAE (1901-04) under Capt. Robert F. Scott , who gave
1580-466: The Cook Mountains. The individual ridges are 1 to 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 km) long and project northward from the higher main ridge. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. The descriptive name was given by the US-ACAN. 79°13′S 157°51′E / 79.217°S 157.850°E / -79.217; 157.850 . A mainly ice-free mountain, 2,040 m, standing 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Fault Bluff. Mapped by
1659-880: The NZ-APC for Captain James Cook . The Cook Mountains are bounded by the Darwin Glacier to the south, which separates the range from the Darwin Mountains . The Ross Ice Shelf lies to the east and the Mulock Glacier to the north, which separates it from the Worcester Range . To the west is the Darwin Névé and the Antarctic ice sheet . Glaciers leaving the mountains, clockwise from
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#17327919312711738-773: The New Zealand Ross Sea Support team. The New Zealand party included scientists participating in International Geophysical Year research while the British team were separately based at Halley Bay . Fuchs was knighted for his accomplishment. The second overland crossing of the continent did not occur until 1981, during the Transglobe Expedition led by Ranulph Fiennes . Preparations began in London in 1955. Over
1817-484: The Ross Ice Shelf Project was launched with a plan of drilling into the shelf to sample the biomass in the area and make other determinations about the shelf and its relationship to the sea floor. This is believed to be the first oceanographic ice shelf borehole. The project included surface glaciological observations as well as drilling, and the glaciological portion started during the planning phase of
1896-524: The South Pole, but when he had completed laying supply depots he saw the opportunity to beat the British and continued south, reaching the Pole—where the U.S. Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station had recently been established by air—on 3 January 1958. Hillary's party was just the third—preceded by Roald Amundsen in 1911 and Robert Falcon Scott in 1912—to reach the Pole overland. Hillary's arrival also marked
1975-579: The U.S. Board on Geographic Names applied the name "Ross Shelf Ice" to this feature and published it in the original U.S. Antarctic Gazetteer. In January 1953, the name was changed to "Ross Ice Shelf"; that name was published in 1956. On 5 January 1841, the British Admiralty's Ross expedition in the Erebus and the Terror , three- masted ships with specially strengthened wooden hulls ,
2054-518: The USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-ACAN for Capt. B.R. Henry, USCG, commander of the Eastwind USN OpDFrz, 1964, and commander of the U.S. ship group, OpDFrz, 1965. 79°16′S 158°30′E / 79.267°S 158.500°E / -79.267; 158.500 . Conspicuous ice-free peak, 2,410 metres (7,910 ft) high, standing 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Mount Gniewek and north of
2133-469: The USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-AC AN for Lt. Cdr. D.J. Cheney, RNZN, commander of HMNZS Rotoiti on ocean station duty between Christchurch and McMurdo Sound, 1963-64. 79°39′S 159°25′E / 79.650°S 159.417°E / -79.650; 159.417 . A distinctive nunatak 3 nautical miles (6 km) west of Cheney Bluff in the Cook Mountains. The feature rises to 1,230 metres (4,040 ft) and
2212-473: The USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-ACAN for Julian P. Gudmundson (BUG), USN, explosive expert who wintered at Little America V in 1957. He blasted the foundation for the nuclear power plant at McMurdo Station during USNOpDFrz, 1961. 79°13′S 157°01′E / 79.217°S 157.017°E / -79.217; 157.017 . An ice-free peak, 2,120 metres (6,960 ft) high, standing 2 miles (3.2 km) south of
2291-501: The analyses have resulted in some interesting theories being posited and publicized. One such opinion, given in 2006 based on a geological survey, suggested that the ice shelf had collapsed previously, perhaps suddenly, which could well happen again. A science team from New Zealand installed a camp in the centre of the shelf in late 2017. The expedition was led by glaciologist Christina Hulbe and brought together oceanographers, glaciologists, biologists and sedimentologists to examine
2370-573: The austral summer of 1955 to 1956, Fuchs sailed with an advance party from London to Antarctica in the Canadian sealer Theron , with the purpose of establishing Shackleton Base near Vahsel Bay on the Weddell Sea , from which the trans-Antarctic expedition would begin. The Theron , like its immediate forebear, the Endurance , was trapped in the ice. Despite sustaining considerable damage, she
2449-711: The base of Tentacle Ridge and Mount Hughes. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) after Michael J. Starbuck , United States Geological Survey (USGS) cartographer who, with Roger A. Barlow , operated the seismometer and Doppler satellite receiving stations at South Pole , winter 1992; member of US-NZ field team in a program to combine US and NZ geodetic networks in the McMurdo Dry Valleys area, summer 1996–97. 79°20′S 156°28′E / 79.333°S 156.467°E / -79.333; 156.467 . A prominent mountain, 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) high, lying 10 miles (16 km) south of
Cook Mountains - Misplaced Pages Continue
2528-518: The dogs protecting them from the unexpectedly severe winter conditions at Shackleton. The party of eight survived the winter with some difficulty, but in reasonably good health, and finally completed the building of the hut except for one hole in the roof, the panel for which was never found. While the hut was being constructed they lived by day in the tractor crate and slept in their tents, two men to each tent. The winter temperatures often fell well below −30 °C (−22 °F), and Shackleton proved to be
2607-419: The drift. When finally the wind subsided the giant crates of wall panels had all disappeared under many feet of drift and the unfinished hut itself was full of snow. The bay ice had broken off taking all the remaining stores with it. Much food and fuel, a couple of huts and a tractor had all gone to sea. The men tried to retrieve the crates by tunnelling under the snow; the tunnels proved to be useful kennels for
2686-427: The drilling. The drilling portion of the project was to have begun during 1974, but the actual drilling was delayed until 1976. Finally, in 1977, the scientists were able to drill successfully through the ice, making a hole that could be sampled every few days for three weeks. The team was able to map the sea floor, study the tides, and assess the fish and various other forms of life in the waters. The team also examined
2765-551: The esteemed Joel David Ellis Watkins, —were responsible for route-finding and laying a line of supply depots up the Skelton Glacier and across the Polar Plateau on towards the South Pole, for the use of Fuchs on the final leg of his journey. Other members of Hillary's team carried out geological surveys around the Ross Sea and Victoria Land areas. It was not originally intended that Hillary would travel as far as
2844-471: The expedition. 79°33′S 156°50′E / 79.550°S 156.833°E / -79.550; 156.833 . A broad glacier about 10 miles (16 km) long, draining southward into Darwin Glacier just west of Tentacle Ridge. Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-ACAN for George McCleary, public information officer on the staff of the U.S. Antarctic Projects Officer (1959-61), whose labors helped to start
2923-680: The first humans to cross the Ice Shelf during its failed attempt to reach the South Pole . Both Roald Amundsen and Scott crossed the shelf to reach the Pole in 1911. Amundsen wrote: "Along its outer edge the Barrier shows an even, flat surface; but here, inside the bay, the conditions were entirely different. Even from the deck of the Fram we were able to observe great disturbances of the surface in every direction; huge ridges with hollows between them extended on all sides. The greatest elevation lay to
3002-526: The first time that land vehicles had ever reached the Pole. Fuchs' team reached the Pole from the opposite direction on 19 January 1958, where they met up with Hillary. Fuchs then continued overland, following the route that Hillary had laid, while Hillary flew back to Scott Base in a U.S. plane. He would later rejoin Fuchs by plane for part of the remaining overland journey. The overland party finally arrived at Scott Base on 2 March 1958, having completed
3081-565: The glaciers and others the valleys on the ice shelf. From 1967 to 1972 the Scott Polar Research Institute reported extensive observations using radio echo sounding . The technique allowed measurements to be taken from the air; allowing a criss cross track of 35,000 km to be covered; compared with a 3,000 km track from previous seismic sounding on the ground. More detailed surveys were executed between 1973 and 1978. A significant scientific endeavor called
3160-511: The glaciers' surfaces. Once their ice shelves are removed, the glaciers increase in speed due to meltwater percolation and/or a reduction of braking forces, and they may begin to dump more ice into the ocean than they gather as snow in their catchments. Glacier ice speed increases are already observed in Peninsula areas where ice shelves disintegrated in prior years." The Ross Ice Shelf is one of many such shelves. It reaches into Antarctica from
3239-557: The grounding line region of the Kamb Ice Stream . The hot water drill borehole at this site penetrated through over 500 m of snow and ice to an ocean cavity only 30 m deep at this location. As well as sampling the ocean and sediment, it was the first deployment beneath the Ross Ice Shelf of the Remotely operated underwater vehicle Icefin developed at Georgia Tech , a vehicle designed around parameters suitable for exploration of
Cook Mountains - Misplaced Pages Continue
3318-582: The head of Carlyon Glacier in the Cook Mountains. Mapped by USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-ACAN for Lt. Cdr. R.A. Kanak, USN, commander of USS Durant on ocean station duty in support of aircraft flights between Christchurch and McMurdo Sound in USN OpDFrz 1963. 79°38′S 157°56′E / 79.633°S 157.933°E / -79.633; 157.933 . A prominent nunatak, 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) high, standing 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Tentacle Ridge in
3397-536: The heavy tasks easily but the weather at Shackleton was colder and much windier than had been anticipated. When the skeleton of the hut was complete, the men positioned the crates containing the wall and roof panels around the building site. Then a blizzard began, and lasted for more than a week. The temperature dropped to −20 °C (−4 °F) and the drift around the base made it impossible to do any work outside. The men sheltered in their crate and slept in their tents which were constantly in danger of getting buried by
3476-442: The help of tackles? Or a great and dangerous fissure, which we should not be able to cross without going a long way round? We naturally expected something of the sort. This mighty and terrible monster would, of course, offer resistance in some form or other," he wrote. "The mystic Barrier! All accounts without exception, from the days of Ross to the present time, had spoken of this remarkable natural formation with apprehensive awe. It
3555-616: The historic crossing of 3,473 kilometres (2,158 mi) of previously unexplored snow and ice in 99 days. A few days later the expedition members left Antarctica for New Zealand on the New Zealand naval ship Endeavour . The ship was captained by Captain Harry Kirkwood . Although large quantities of supplies were hauled overland, both parties were also equipped with light aircraft and made extensive use of air support for reconnaissance and supplies. Additional logistical help
3634-717: The ice east of the Brown Hills. Mapped by the VUWAE, 1962-63. Named for R.A. Cooper, geologist with the VUWAE, 1960-61. 79°46′S 159°10′E / 79.767°S 159.167°E / -79.767; 159.167 . A small eminence, 1,450 metres (4,760 ft), marking the highest point of Cooper Nunatak, at the east side of the Brown Hills. Mapped by the VUWAE (1962-63) and so named because of its small size. 79°39′S 158°50′E / 79.650°S 158.833°E / -79.650; 158.833 . A jagged ridge, 4.5 nautical miles (8 km) long, that runs east from
3713-422: The ice, ocean and sediment in the central shelf region. One of the key findings was that the ice in the region was re-freezing. This re-freezing and growth of an ice shelf is not uncommon but the Ross Ice Shelf situation appeared to be very variable as there was no evidence of long-term freezing. A recent study attribute this variability in-part to tidal mixing. A second New Zealand expedition in 2019 traveled to
3792-518: The liquid cavities of places like Europa . The same New Zealand team returned to another site along the Kamb coast in December 2021, this time drilling through an under-ice river that proved to be essentially oceanic. The team were able to melt through the ice to discover the 250 m deep river had formed a relatively narrow channel beneath the ice. They also recorded evidence of the tsunami generated by
3871-663: The name "Mount Mill," after British Antarctic historian Hugh Robert Mill , to a summit in nearby Reeves Bluffs. This area was mapped by USGS from surveys and U.S. Navy photography (1959-63). A prominent mountain does not rise from the bluffs, and since the name Mount Mill is in use elsewhere in Antarctica, the US-ACAN (1965) altered the original name to Mill Mountain and applied it to the prominent mountain described. 79°28′S 157°13′E / 79.467°S 157.217°E / -79.467; 157.217 . A high relatively flat ice-capped area of about 7 square miles (18 km). It lies between Festive Plateau and Mount Longhurst on
3950-426: The narrow valley on the north side of Diamond Hill . Mapped by the VUWAE (1962-63) and named after Diamond Hill. 79°48′S 158°10′E / 79.800°S 158.167°E / -79.800; 158.167 . A tributary of Darwin Glacier, flowing south between Roadend Nunatak and the Brown Hills. Mapped by the VUWAE (1962-63) and so named because the glacier was used as a landing site for aircraft supporting
4029-650: The north side of the lower Darwin Glacier. Named by the Darwin Glacier Party of the CTAE (1956-58) which surveyed this area. 79°46′S 158°33′E / 79.767°S 158.550°E / -79.767; 158.550 . A group of mainly snow-free hills in the Cook Mountains, lying north of the lower reaches of Darwin Glacier. Named for their color by the Darwin Glacier Party of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (CTAE) (1956-58). 79°45′S 159°11′E / 79.750°S 159.183°E / -79.750; 159.183 . A large rocky nunatak 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Diamond Hill, protruding through
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#17327919312714108-713: The north, and Starbuck Cirque and Mount Hughes on the south. At 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) elevation, the terrace is 200 metres (660 ft) below the adjoining Festive Plateau and 850 metres (2,800 ft) below towering Mount Longhurst. It was named after David H. Bromwich of the Polar Meteorology Group, Byrd Polar Research Center , Ohio State University , who carried out climatological investigations of Antarctica for over 20 years beginning about 1978. 79°33′S 157°14′E / 79.550°S 157.233°E / -79.550; 157.233 ) A remarkable cirque , 4 miles (6.4 km) wide, between
4187-448: The north, and covers an area of about 520,000 km (200,000 sq mi), nearly the size of France. The ice mass is about 800 km (500 mi) wide and 970 km (600 mi) long. In some places, namely its southern areas, the ice shelf can be almost 750 m (2,450 ft) thick. The Ross Ice Shelf pushes out into the sea at between 1.5 and 3 m (5 and 10 ft) a day. Other glaciers gradually add bulk to it. At
4266-628: The north, are: 79°03′S 159°20′E / 79.050°S 159.333°E / -79.050; 159.333 . Glacier 10 miles (16 km) long flowing northeastward to Mulock Glacier, to the east of Henry Mesa . Mapped by the USGS from tellurometer surveys and Navy air photos, 1959-63. Named by US-AC AN for John A. Heap, a member of the University of Michigan-Ross Ice Shelf Studies party, 1962-63. 79°18′S 160°20′E / 79.300°S 160.333°E / -79.300; 160.333 . Glacier 7 miles (11 km) long, flowing from
4345-465: The névé east of Mill Mountain to the Ross Ice Shelf at Cape Murray. Mapped in 1958 by the Darwin Glacier party of the CTAE (1956-58). Named by the NZ-APC for R.A. Carlyon, who with H.H. Ayres, made up the party. 79°51′S 159°00′E / 79.850°S 159.000°E / -79.850; 159.000 . A small distributary glacier of the Darwin Glacier, flowing east-north-east into
4424-411: The oceanographic and geological conditions as well as the temperature of the ice. They estimated that the base of the shelf was −2.16 °C (27.3 °F). They also made other calculations about the fluctuations of the temperatures. The results of these various projects were published in a series of reports in the 2 February 1979 issue of Science . During the 1980s, a network of weather stations
4503-577: The polar plateau in the west part of the Cook Mountains. The ridge is in the form of an arc, extending northwest from Mount Ayres. Named by US-ACAN for Cdr. H.K. Butcher, USN, air operations officer on the Staff of the U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, during USN OpDFrz 1963 and 1964. 79°18′S 157°40′E / 79.300°S 157.667°E / -79.300; 157.667 . A notable rock bluff. 2,320 metres (7,610 ft) high, situated 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Mount Longhurst. The feature
4582-643: The precise location of geophysical sites established during the Ross Ice Shelf Project, 1973-74 field season. 79°40′S 159°8′E / 79.667°S 159.133°E / -79.667; 159.133 . A nunatak , 1,270 metres (4,170 ft) high, located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) southeast of Schoonmaker Ridge in the Cook Mountains. Named after the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 13 of December 18, 1973. 79°36′S 158°40′E / 79.600°S 158.667°E / -79.600; 158.667 . A line of east-facing rock bluffs, 8 miles (13 km) long, situated 15 miles (24 km) west of Cape Murray in
4661-408: The range include: 79°05′S 159°04′E / 79.083°S 159.067°E / -79.083; 159.067 . A distinctive wedge-shaped mesa 2 miles (3.2 km) in extent, standing 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Mulock Glacier on the west side of Heap Glacier. The ice-covered summit, 1,430 metres (4,690 ft) high, is flat except for a cirque which indents the north side. Mapped by
4740-473: The same time, the freezing of seawater below the ice mass increases the thickness of the ice from 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) . Sometimes, fissures and cracks may cause part of the shelf to break off; the largest known is about 31,000 km (12,000 sq mi), that is, slightly larger than Belgium. Iceberg B-15 , the world's largest recorded iceberg , was calved from the Ross Ice Shelf during March 2000. Scientists have long been intrigued by
4819-414: The shelf and its composition. Many scientific teams researching the Antarctic have made camps on or adjacent to the Ross Ice Shelf. This includes McMurdo Station , built next to the Ross Ice Shelf on volcanic rock. One major effort was a series of studies conducted in 1957 and 1958, which were continued during the 1960–61 season. The efforts involved an international team of scientists. Some parties explored
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#17327919312714898-582: The shelf is "only a few degrees too cool in summer presently to undergo the same kind of retreat process. The Ross Ice Shelf is the main outlet for several major glaciers draining the West Antarctic Ice Sheet , which contains the equivalent of 5 m of sea level rise in its above-sea-level ice." The report added that observations of "iceberg calving " on the Ross Ice Shelf are, in their opinion, unrelated to its stability. Scientific exploration continues to uncover interesting information and
4977-446: The site of where the base was to be set up. Their first task was to get all these stores from the bay ice to the base and to try to build some permanent shelter for the oncoming winter. Once some food and paraffin had been brought up and the dogs safely tethered by the base, the men started to build their hut. This proved to be far more difficult than had been envisaged – not only were the eight men insufficient in number to carry out
5056-476: The size of France). It is several hundred metres thick. The nearly vertical ice front to the open sea is more than 600 kilometres (370 mi) long, and between 15 and 50 metres (50 and 160 ft) high above the water surface. Ninety percent of the floating ice, however, is below the water surface. Most of the Ross Ice Shelf is in the Ross Dependency claimed by New Zealand. It floats in, and covers,
5135-443: The south by upper Darwin Glacier and on the east by McCleary Glacier. The plateau was traversed by the Darwin Glacier Party of the CTAE in 1957-58, who named it for nearby Mount Longhurst. 79°17′S 157°27′E / 79.283°S 157.450°E / -79.283; 157.450 . A narrow but prominent rock ridge, 5 nautical miles (9 km) long, which extends north from the northeast cliffs of Longhurst Plateau. The ridge
5214-562: The south in the form of a lofty, arched ridge, which we took to be about 500 feet [150 m] high on the horizon. But it might be assumed that this ridge continued to rise beyond the range of vision". The next day, the party made its first steps on the Barrier. "After half an hour's march we were already at the first important point—the connection between the sea-ice and the Barrier. This connection had always haunted our brains. What would it be like? A high, perpendicular face of ice, up which we should have to haul our things laboriously with
5293-433: The south part of Reeves Plateau , Cook Mountains. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) after remote sensing scientist James W. (Bill) Schoonmaker, Jr., topographic engineer, United States Geological Survey (USGS). He spent three austral summers in Antarctica, 1972–76, with geodetic work at South Pole , Byrd Station , Antarctic Peninsula , Ellsworth Mountains and Ross Ice Shelf , where he determined
5372-508: The southern summer of 1956–1957 was spent consolidating Shackleton Base and establishing the smaller South Ice Base, about 300 miles (480 km) inland to the south. After spending the winter of 1957 at Shackleton Base, Fuchs finally set out on the transcontinental journey in November ;1957, with a 12-man team travelling in six vehicles; three Sno-Cats , two Weasel tractors , and one specially adapted Muskeg tractor . En route,
5451-462: The team were also tasked with carrying out scientific research including seismic soundings and gravimetric readings. In parallel, Hillary's team had set up Scott Base —which was to be Fuchs' final destination—on the opposite side of the continent at McMurdo Sound on the Ross Sea . Using three converted Ferguson TE20 tractors and one Weasel, abandoned part-way, Hillary and his three men—Ron Balham, Peter Mulgrew and Ellis Williams, great uncle of
5530-553: The tradition of polar expeditions of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration , the CTAE was a private venture, though it was supported by the governments of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Australia and South Africa, as well as many corporate and individual donations, under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth II . It was headed by British explorer Vivian Fuchs , with New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary leading
5609-407: The west end of the Finger Ridges . Climbed in December 1957 by the Darwin Glacier Party of the CTAE (1956-58). Named for H.H. Ayres, one of the two men comprising the Darwin Glacier Party. 79°17′S 156°37′E / 79.283°S 156.617°E / -79.283; 156.617 . A rock spur 3.5 nautical miles (6 km) northeast of Mount Ayres on the north side of Longhurst Plateau. It
5688-470: Was able to free herself with the help of the Auster Antarctic floatplane that scouted a way out. In early 1956, Fuchs sailed back to London, leaving eight men to over-winter at Shackleton. The eight men of the advance party, led by Ken Blaiklock , were left on the ice, having only tents and a packing crate as shelter. Most of the stores were left on the bay ice, some two miles (3.2 km) from
5767-427: Was as though one could always read between the lines the same sentence: 'Hush, be quiet! the mystic Barrier!' "One, two, three, and a little jump, and the Barrier was surmounted!" Ice shelves are thick plates of ice, formed continuously by glaciers, that float atop an ocean. The shelves act as "brakes" for the glaciers. These shelves serve another important purpose—"they moderate the amount of melting that occurs on
5846-499: Was floating on water; and measurements in 1902–1903 showed it had advanced 555 meters northwards in 13.5 months. The findings were presented at a lecture entitled "Universitas Antarctica!" given 7 June 1911 and were published in the account of Scott's second expedition (the Terra Nova Expedition of 1910–1913). Ernest Shackleton 's southern party (Shackleton, Adams, Marshal, Wild) of the 1908 Nimrod expedition were
5925-683: Was going through the pack ice of the Pacific near Antarctica in an attempt to determine the position of the South Magnetic Pole. Four days later, they found their way into open water and were hoping that they would have a clear passage to their destination. But on 11 January, the men were faced with an enormous mass of ice. Sir James Clark Ross , the expedition's commander, remarked: "It was an obstruction of such character as to leave no doubt upon my mind as to our future proceedings, for we might with equal chance of success try to sail through
6004-401: Was installed to record temperatures on the shelf and throughout the more remote parts of the continent. University of Colorado's National Snow and Ice Data Center has been studying ice shelves and, in 2002, announced that, based on several breakups of ice shelves, including Larsen B, has begun to reassess their stability. Their scientists stated that the temperature of the warmest portion of
6083-737: Was named after Carol Finn , a geophysicist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), who was USGS project chief on a cooperative USGS–German aeromagnetic survey over the Butcher Ridge – Cook Mountains – Darwin Névé area, 1997–98, and also performed additional aeromagnetic surveys from 1991, including seasons over the West Antarctic ice sheet from 1994 as a principal investigator and USGS project chief. 79°12′S 155°48′E / 79.200°S 155.800°E / -79.200; 155.800 . A large, mainly ice-free ridge near
6162-452: Was provided by U.S. personnel who were working in Antarctica at that time. Both parties also took dog teams which were used for fieldwork trips and backup in case of failure of the mechanical transportation, though the dogs were not taken all the way to the Pole. In December 1957 four men from the expedition flew one of the planes—a de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter —on an 11-hour, 1,430-mile (2,300 km), non-stop trans-polar flight across
6241-417: Was visited in the 1957-58 season by members of the Darwin Glacier Party of the CTAE, 1956-58. They applied the name which presumably refers to a geological fault at the bluff. 79°11′S 157°00′E / 79.183°S 157.000°E / -79.183; 157.000 . Several mainly ice-free ridges and spurs extending over a distance of about 12 miles (19 km), east-west, in the northwest part of
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