Challenger Glacier

Challenger Glacier is a tidewater glacier on the north side of Heard Island[6] in the southern Indian Ocean. Located 1 nautical mile (2 km) east of Baudissin Glacier, Challenger Glacier is 0.8 nautical miles (1.5 km) wide and flows into the eastern side of Corinthian Bay, close west to Saddle Point.[6][7] To the east of Challenger Glacier is Downes Glacier, whose terminus is located at Mechanics Bay, between Saddle Point and Cape Bidlingmaier. To the west of Challenger Glacier is Baudissin Glacier, whose terminus is located at the western side of Corinthian Bay, near Sealers Cove.

Challenger Glacier
Location of Heard Island and McDonald Islands on the globe
Typecirque/tidewater
LocationHeard Island
Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Australia
Coordinates53°2′S 73°28′E
Width0.8 nautical miles (1.5 km)
Thickness55 metres (180 ft)
Terminuseastern side of Corinthian Bay, close west to Saddle Point
StatusRetreating[1][2][3][4][5]

Discovery and naming

The glacier appears to have been first charted by the Gauss expedition under Erich von Drygalski, 1901–03, who portrayed a single large glacier flowing into Corinthian Bay. In 1948 the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) determined that more than one glacier discharges into Corinthian Bay. ANARE applied the name Challenger Glacier to the easternmost of these glaciers to commemorate the work of the British Challenger Expedition, 1873–76.

References

  1. Ian F. Allison; Peter L. Keage (1986). "Recent changes in the glaciers of Heard Island". Polar Record. 23 (144): 255–272. doi:10.1017/S0032247400007099.
  2. Andrew Ruddell (25 May 2010). "Our subantarctic glaciers: why are they retreating?". Glaciology Program, Antarctic CRC and AAD. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  3. Quilty, P.G.; Wheller, G. (2000). "Heard Island and the McDonald Islands: A window into the Kerguelen Plateau (Heard Island Papers)". Pap. Proc. R. Soc. Tasm. 133 (2): 1–12.
  4. Budd, G.M. (2000). "Changes in Heard Island glaciers, king penguins and fur seals since 1947 (Heard Island Papers)". Pap. Proc. R. Soc. Tasm. 133 (2): 47–60.
  5. Douglas E. Thost; Martin Truffer (February 2008). "Glacier Recession on Heard Island, Southern Indian Ocean". Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. 40 (1): 199–214. doi:10.1657/1523-0430(06-084)[THOST]2.0.CO;2. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  6. "Challenger Glacier". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  7. "Challenger Glacier". Australian Antarctic Data Centre. Retrieved 5 June 2010.

Further reading


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