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2 unusual facts about Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names


Oppegaard Spur

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Richard D. Oppegaard, Seaman Apprentice, U.S. Navy, a member of the U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica, who lost his life in a shipboard accident, November 8, 1957.

Robertson Ridge

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for James D. Robertson, United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP) geophysicist at Byrd Station, 1970-71 season; he participated in the geophysical survey of the Ross Ice Shelf in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons.


Alley Glacier

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after Richard Alley of the Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, a United States Antarctic Program glaciologist who specialized in the study of ice streams of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Aster Glacier

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 2006, after Richard C. Aster, Professor of Geophysics at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, who has been involved in volcanological studies at the Mount Erebus volcano observatory on Ross Island, with ice, ocean, and tectonic seismic source research, and with seismological, tectonic, and structural studies of Antarctica.

Barclay Kamb

Barclay Kamb and Hermann Engelhardt, both researchers at Caltech who led the teams, were honored by the American Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (ACAN) with the renaming of an ice stream and ice ridge into Kamb Ice Stream and Engelhardt Ice Ridge, respectively.

Bender Glacier

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (2006) after Professor Michael L. Bender at the Department of Geosciences (Geochemistry), Princeton University (earlier at the Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island), whose paleoclimate research from 1984 centered on the glacial-interglacial climate change and the global carbon cycle.

Brook Glacier

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (2006) after Edward J. Brook, Professor of Geosciences, Oregon State University; U.S. Antarctic Project investigator of Antarctic paleoclimate in numerous field seasons from 1988; Chair, U.S. National Ice Core Working Group for use of Antarctic ice cores for research purposes, 2004–05.

Carleton Glacier

It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey from ground surveys and from Navy air photos, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 1963, in association with nearby Rutgers Glacier, after Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, which has sent researchers to Antarctica.

Carnegie Range

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after Andrew Carnegie, American industrialist of Scottish birth who established numerous foundations and endowments for education, research, and social advancement, including the provision of public libraries in the United States, Great Britain, and other English speaking countries.

Cassidy Glacier

The glacier was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 1992 after William A. Cassidy, Department of Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, who in 13 field seasons, 1976–90, led United States Antarctic Research Program teams in the investigation and collection of Antarctic meteorites from diverse sites through Victoria Land and southward to Lewis Cliff, adjacent to the Queen Alexandra Range.

DeGoes Cliff

The geographical feature was first mapped by the United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1960–63, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Louis DeGoes of the National Academy of Sciences, who was Executive Secretary of the Committee on Polar Research, United States National Research Council.

Donnellan Glacier

The glacier was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 2006 after Andrea Donnellan of the Satellite Geodesy and Geodynamics Systems Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, who was involved from the mid-1990s in research projects involving the use of GPS in studies of earth crustal deformation in Southern California and also in Antarctica.

Echelmeyer Ice Stream

The name was changed from Ice Stream F by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 2002 to honor Dr. Keith A. Echelmeyer of the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, who studied the flow of Marie Byrd Land ice streams, 1992–93 and 1994–95, as well as the fast flow of surging glaciers in Alaska and Greenland.

Esser Hill

It was named in 1992 by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after Alan C. Esser of Holmes and Narver, Inc., who served as Project Manager of Antarctic Support Activities, 1976–80, and was responsible for contractor operations at McMurdo Station, South Pole Station and Siple Station, as well as field activities in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Fokker Rocks

The name, applied by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names, recalls the fact that a Fokker airplane of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, 1928–30, was damaged beyond repair by strong winds while it was on the ground on the south side of nearby Washington Ridge.

Friedmann Valley

It was named in 1992 by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after E. Imre Friedmann, a biologist at the Polar Desert Research Center, Florida State University, who in virtually every austral summer, 1976–87, led United States Antarctic Research Program field parties in the study of microorganisms in rocks of the McMurdo Dry Valleys.

Gamage Point

The name, applied by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names, is in association with Hero Inlet inasmuch as it was the Harvey F. Gamage shipyard in South Bristol, Maine, that built the research vessel Hero.

Goodell Glacier

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after Janice G. Goodell of the United States Geological Survey, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, a support member of the Glacier Studies Project Team from the early 1990s onwards.

Gutenberg Glacier

The glacier was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after German-born seismologist Beno Gutenberg, director of the California Institute of Technology seismology laboratory in the 1930s, and collaborator with Charles F. Richter in developing the Richter Scale, 1935, used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

Haggerty Hill

It was named in 1992 by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after Patrick R. Haggerty of Holmes and Narver, Inc., who managed logistics and construction activities at McMurdo Station, South Pole Station, Siple Station and various field camps during the 1970s and 1990s.

Healy Trough

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) (2004) after Terry R. Healy, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, who, with John Shaw, published observations on the formation of the Labyrinth following a visit in the 1975-76 season.

Inan Peak

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 1994 named after Umran Inan of Stanford University, who has conducted critical research since 1980 in the upper atmosphere of Antarctica at Siple Station and Palmer Station, and is internationally recognized as a leader in the study of upper atmospheric phenomena.

Jacobel Glacier

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after Robert W. Jacobel, holder of the Grace A. Whittier Chair of Physics at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota.

Knob Point

The name was adopted by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names on the recommendation of Gerald L. Kooyman, a United States Antarctic Research Program biologist who studied physiological characteristics related to diving in the Weddell seal in this vicinity, 1963–64 and 1964–65.

Lie Cliff

It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy aerial photography, 1959–66, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Hans P. Lie, a United States Antarctic Research Program ionospheric physicist at Siple Station in the 1970–71 and 1973–74 summer seasons.

Linnaeus Terrace

The name was proposed to the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names by biologist Imre Friedmann who established a United States Antarctic Research Program field camp on this terrace in December 1980 for the study of microbial flora living in rocks.

Martin Cirque

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (1997) after Craig J. Martin, who had 10 years involvement in Antarctic construction and engineering projects at Siple Station, South Pole Station, and McMurdo Station and various field camps in the McMurdo Dry Valleys from 1977.

Marvin Nunatak

It was presumably first seen by the British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901–04, from nearby Depot Nunatak, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 1992 after Ursula B. Marvin of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Mosley-Thompson Cirques

They were named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 1994 after glaciologist Ellen Stone Mosley-Thompson of the Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, who for many years from 1974 onwards analyzed ice samples from Antarctica and conducted field research at the South Pole, at Siple Station, and at Plateau Remote Camp.

Mount Holm-Hansen

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names in 1997 after Osmund Holm-Hansen, a plant physiologist, who, working in the 1959–60 season, was one of the first American scientists to visit and conduct research in both Taylor Valley and Wright Valley.

Mount Liavaag

It was discovered by Lincoln Ellsworth on his trans-Antarctic flight of November 23, 1935, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for First Mate Liavaag of the Wyatt Earp in 1935–36, and also a member of Ellsworth's two earlier Antarctic expeditions.

Mount Richter

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) after Charles F. Richter, American physicist, California Institute of Technology, 1930–70; in collaboration with Beno Gutenberg, 1935, he developed the Richter Scale which bears his name, used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

Mount Ropar

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Nicholas J. Ropar, Jr., Weather Central meteorologist at Little America V, 1958.

Mount Weems

It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Captain P. V. H. Weems, a retired inventor from the U.S. Navy and a developer of air navigation instrumentation and techniques and consultant to Ellsworth on air navigation problems of this flight.

Nutt Bluff

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) at the suggestion of Arthur B. Ford, leader of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) geological party in the Dufek Massif, 1976–77, after Constance J. Nutt, geologist, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, a member of the USGS party.

Polarstar Ridge

The ridge was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) after the Polar Star, the low-wing monoplane from which Lincoln Ellsworth, with pilot Herbert Hollick-Kenyon, discovered and photographed this ridge and the Staccato Peaks on November 23, 1935.

Rowe Nunataks

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) (1999) after C.A. Rowe, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, who investigated volcanic activity and seismicity at nearby Mount Erebus, 1984–85 and 1985-86.

Scott Peninsula

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Scott, USA, who assisted with the early establishment of U.S. Navy Operation Deepfreeze finances and liaison during the IGY.

Shaw Trough

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) (2004) after John Shaw, Department of Geography, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, who, with Terry R. Healy, published observations on the formation of the Labyrinth following a visit in the 1975-76 season.

Spilhaus Inlet

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in 1988 after Athelstan Spilhaus (b. 1911), meteorologist and oceanographer; member of the U.S. National Committee for the IGY, 1957–58, and of the National Science Board, 1966-72.

Stuckless Glacier

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) (1999) after John S. Stuckless, Department of Geology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb (later U.S. Geological Survey), who, in several seasons from 1972–73, investigated the geochemistry of McMurdo volcanic rocks, correlating samples from several Ross Island sites with DVDP core samples obtained in McMurdo Dry Valleys.

Thomas Valley

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) (1997) after Jean-Claude Thomas, Associate Professor of Geography-Cartography, Catholic University of America, 1967–76, George Mason University, 1976–85; United States Geological Survey (USGS) Cartographer from 1985, specializing in satellite image mapping at various scales, including the 1:25,000-scale color maps of McMurdo Dry Valleys, 1997.

Tinglof Peninsula

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Ivor Tinglof, tractor mechanic of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition in 1933-35, who built at Little America the first heavy cargo sleds for use in the Antarctic.

Van Loon Glacier

It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy aerial photography, 1960–62, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for meteorologist Harry van Loon, a member of the Antarctic Weather Central team at Little America on the Ross Ice Shelf 1957-58, who has written numerous scientific papers dealing with Antarctic and southern hemisphere atmospheric research.

Vishniac Peak

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Wolf V. Vishniac (1922–73), professor of biology at the University of Rochester, New York, who made Antarctic studies (1971–72 and 1973) on the water absorption of soil particles and its microbiological significance, and the ability of microorganisms to withstand a hostile milieu.

Wall Valley

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) (2004) after Diana Wall, Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; United States Antarctic Program (USAP) soils biologist in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, 13 field seasons, 1989-2002, most of them as a principal investigator in the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research program (MCM LTER).

Warburton Ledge

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) after Joseph A. Warburton, Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada, Reno, United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP) scientist in charge of the RISP meteorological program, 1974-75 field season.

White Glacier

Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for General Thomas D. White, United States Air Force (USAF), Chief of Staff and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1957–61, who participated in the planning and organizational stages of Operation Deep Freeze in an administrative capacity and in matters relating to aircraft.


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