Kuiper Scarp

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Kuiper Scarp ( 71°26′S68°27′W / 71.433°S 68.450°W / -71.433; -68.450 Coordinates: 71°26′S68°27′W / 71.433°S 68.450°W / -71.433; -68.450 ) is an east–west escarpment running along the south face of Uranus Glacier on the east side of Alexander Island, Antarctica. The scarp was photographed by Lincoln Ellsworth, November 23, 1935, in the course of a trans-Antarctic flight and was plotted from the photos by W.L.G. Joerg.

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.

Uranus Glacier is a glacier on the east coast of Alexander Island, Antarctica, 30 kilometres long and 10 km (6 mi) wide at its mouth, flowing east into George VI Sound immediately south of Fossil Bluff. Along the south face of the glacier is an east–west escarpment called Kuiper Scarp.

Alexander Island island in the Bellingshausen Sea off Antarctica

Alexander Island, which is also known as Alexander I Island, Alexander I Land, Alexander Land, Alexander I Archipelago, and Zemlja Alexandra I, is the largest island of Antarctica. It lies in the Bellingshausen Sea west of Palmer Land, Antarctic Peninsula from which it is separated by Marguerite Bay and George VI Sound. George VI Ice Shelf entirely fills George VI Sound and connects Alexander Island to Palmer Land. The island partly surrounds Wilkins Sound, which lies to its west. Alexander Island is about 390 kilometres (240 mi) long in a north-south direction, 80 kilometres (50 mi) wide in the north, and 240 kilometres (150 mi) wide in the south. Alexander Island is the second largest uninhabited island in the world, after Devon Island.

It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee from association with Uranus Glacier after Gerard Kuiper, the Dutch-American astronomer who in 1948 discovered Miranda, one of the satellites of the planet Uranus. [1]

The UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee is a United Kingdom government committee, part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, responsible for recommending names of geographical locations within the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI). Such names are formally approved by the Commissioners of the BAT and SGSSI respectively, and published in the BAT Gazetteer and the SGSSI Gazetteer maintained by the Committee. The BAT names are also published in the international Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica maintained by SCAR.

Gerard Kuiper Netherlands-born American astronomer

Gerard Peter Kuiper was a Dutch–American astronomer, planetary scientist, selenographer, author and professor. He is the eponymous namesake of the Kuiper belt. Kuiper is considered by many to be the father of modern planetary science. As professor at the University of Chicago, he was dissertation advisor to Carl Sagan. In 1958, the two worked on the classified military Project A119, the secret Air Force plan to detonate a nuclear warhead on the Moon.

Astronomer scientist who studies celestial bodies

An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, moons, comets, and galaxies – in either observational or theoretical astronomy. Examples of topics or fields astronomers study include planetary science, solar astronomy, the origin or evolution of stars, or the formation of galaxies. Related but distinct subjects like physical cosmology, which studies the Universe as a whole.

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Mount Umbriel is a peak, rising to about 1,500 m, overlooking the head of Venus Glacier on the east coast of Alexander Island, Antarctica, with the east face of the mountain overlooking the George VI Ice Shelf that occupies George VI Sound. The mountain was first mapped by Searle of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey in 1960, from air photos taken by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition in 1947-48. Named by the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee from association with nearby Uranus Glacier, Umbriel being one of the satellites of the planet Uranus, the seventh planet of the Solar System.

Witt Bluff is a rock bluff on the southwest side of Eros Glacier in eastern Alexander Island. The bluff is situated at the east end of a spur projecting from Planet Heights. Mapped by Directorate of Overseas Surveys from satellite imagery supplied by U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration in cooperation with U.S. Geological Survey. Named by United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee from association with nearby Eros Glacier after Carl G. Witt (1866–1946), the German astronomer who discovered Eros in 1898.

Altarduken Glacier glacier in Antarctica

Altarduken Glacier is a small glacier just east of The Altar at the head of Grautskala Cirque, in the Humboldt Mountains of Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. It was discovered and mapped from air photos by the Third German Antarctic Expedition, 1938-39, but was remapped by Norway from air photos and surveys by the Sixth Norwegian Antarctic Expedition, 1956–60, and named Altarduken in association with The Altar.

Mount Ariel

Mount Ariel is a peak, 1,250 m, marking the south limit of Planet Heights and overlooking the north side of Uranus Glacier in the east part of Alexander Island. The peak lies 3 miles (5 km) east of Atoll Nunataks Probably first seen by Lincoln Ellsworth, who flew directly over it and photographed segments of this coast on November 23, 1935. First mapped from air photos taken by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (RARE), 1947–48, by Searle of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) in 1960. So named by the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee (UK-APC) because of its association with Uranus Glacier, Ariel being one of the satellites of Uranus.

Deadmond Glacier glacier in Antarctica

Deadmond Glacier is a glacier about 6 nautical miles (11 km) long, flowing from the east side of Evans Peninsula on Thurston Island into Cadwalader Inlet. It was discovered by the U.S. Navy Bellingshausen Sea Expedition in February 1960, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Lieutenant Commander Robert B. Deadmond, executive officer of USS Burton Island, forming part of this expedition.

Muus Glacier is a glacier entering the north side of Odom Inlet between Snyder Peninsula and Strømme Ridge, on the east coast of Palmer Land. Mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 1974. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for David Muus, United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP) oceanographer aboard USCGC Northwind in the Ross Sea area, 1971–72, and a participant in the Weddell Sea Oceanographic Investigations aboard USCGC Glacier, 1974-75.

Transition Glacier is a glacier extending along the east coast of Alexander Island, 8 nautical miles (15 km) long and 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) wide, which flows east into the George VI Ice Shelf that occupies George VI Sound along the north side of Block Mountain and Tilt Rock. The glacier was first photographed from the air on November 23, 1935, by Lincoln Ellsworth and mapped from these photos by W.L.G. Joerg. Surveyed in 1949 by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, and so named by them because this glacier marks the transition between igneous rocks to the north and sedimentary rocks to the south.

Pluto Glacier is a glacier on the east coast of Alexander Island, Antarctica, 10 nautical miles (18 km) long and 4 nautical miles (7 km) wide, which flows east into George VI Sound to the north of Succession Cliffs. Although Pluto Glacier is not located within nearby Planet Heights, the glacier was named in association with the mountain range along with many other nearby glaciers that are named after planets of the Solar System. The glacier was first photographed from the air on November 23, 1935, by Lincoln Ellsworth and mapped from these photos by W.L.G. Joerg. Roughly surveyed in 1936 by the British Graham Land Expedition (BGLE). Named by the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee (UK-APC) for Pluto, then considered the ninth planet of the Solar System, following Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) surveys in 1948 and 1949.

Earnshaw Glacier is a glacier 10 nautical miles (19 km) long, flowing northward to the east of Norwood Scarp and entering Maitland Glacier to the south of Werner Peak, in the eastern Antarctic Peninsula. It was photographed from the air by the United States Antarctic Service on September 28, 1940. It was surveyed by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey in January 1961, and was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee after Thomas Earnshaw, an English watchmaker who made innovations leading to the modern marine chronometer.

Eros Glacier is a glacier on the east coast of Alexander Island, Antarctica, 7 nautical miles (13 km) long and 2 nautical miles (4 km) wide at its mouth, flowing southeast from the Planet Heights into George VI Sound immediately north of Fossil Bluff. It was probably first seen on November 23, 1935, by Lincoln Ellsworth, who flew directly over the glacier and obtained photos of features north and south of it. The mouth of the glacier was observed and positioned by the British Graham Land Expedition in 1936 and the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) in 1948 and 1949. The glacier was mapped in detail from air photos taken by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, 1947–48, by D. Searle of the FIDS in 1960. It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee after the minor planet Eros in association with nearby Pluto Glacier and Uranus Glacier.

Goff Glacier glacier in Antarctica

Goff Glacier is a broad glacier flowing from Parker Peak into the head of Koether Inlet on the north side of Thurston Island, Antarctica. It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after Lieutenant Robert G. Goff, co-pilot of PBM Mariner aircraft in the Eastern Group of U.S. Navy Operation Highjump, which obtained aerial photographs of Thurston Island and adjacent coastal areas, 1946–47.

The Miranda Peaks are a line of about six peaks trending in a north–south direction on the south side of Uranus Glacier, in eastern Alexander Island, Antarctica. They were photographed by Lincoln Ellsworth on November 23, 1935, in the course of a trans-Antarctic flight and were plotted from the air photos by W.L.G. Joerg. The peaks were named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee from association with Uranus Glacier after Miranda, one of the 31 moons of the planet Uranus, the seventh planet of the solar system.

McManus Glacier glacier in Antarctica

McManus Glacier is a glacier flowing north into Palestrina Glacier, in northwestern Alexander Island, Antarctica. It separates Lassus Mountains on the west from Sofia University Mountains on the east. The glacier was surveyed by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), 1975–76, and was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee in 1980 after Alan James McManus, a BAS cook at Grytviken and Faraday Research Station, 1971–73, and at Adelaide Island and Rothera Research Station, 1975–78.

Mercury Glacier is a glacier on the east coast of Alexander Island, Antarctica, 5 nautical miles (9 km) long and 2 nautical miles (4 km) wide, flowing east into George VI Sound between the Waitabit Cliffs and Keystone Cliffs. The glacier was probably first sighted from a distance by Lincoln Ellsworth, who flew near it and photographed segments of this coast on November 23, 1935. It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee for the planet Mercury following rough surveys from George VI Sound by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS) in 1948 and 1949. The glacier was mapped in detail from air photos taken by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, 1947–48, by D. Searle of the FIDS in 1960. Although Mercury Glacier is not located within the Planet Heights, it is named in association with the heights along with many other nearby glaciers named after planets of the Solar System.

Himalia Ridge is a ridge running east–west on the north side of the Ganymede Heights massif, north-east of Jupiter Glacier, in the east of Alexander Island, Antarctica. It was photographed from the air by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition in 1947 and mapped from these photographs by D. Searle of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey in 1960. The ridge was named by the UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee following British Antarctic Survey geological work, 1983–84, after Himalia, a satellite of the planet Jupiter, in association with Jupiter Glacier. The site lies within Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No.147.

Hushen Glacier is a glacier lying at the southwestern part of the base of the Mendelssohn Inlet, an inlet lying between Derocher Peninsula and Eroica Peninsula indenting the north face of Beethoven Peninsula, in the southwestern portion of Alexander Island, Antarctica. The glacier flows northeast while joining Reuning Glacier which discharges into the south part of Mendelssohn Inlet. It was mapped by the United States Geological Survey from U.S. Navy aerial photographs taken 1967–68 and from Landsat imagery taken 1972–73, and was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for W. Timothy Hushen, Director of the Polar Research Board at the National Academy of Sciences, 1981–88.

Mahaffey Glacier

Mahaffey Glacier is a glacier flowing into the head of Morgan Inlet at the east end of Thurston Island, Antarctica. It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names after J.S. Mahaffey, a Photographer's Mate in the Eastern Group of U.S. Navy Operation Highjump, which obtained aerial photographs of Thurston Island and adjacent coastal areas in 1946–47.

Reuning Glacier is a glacier situated on the north side of Beethoven Peninsula, lying within the southwest portion of Alexander Island, Antarctica. The glacier flows in a northwest direction and joins Hushen Glacier in discharging into south Mendelssohn Inlet. The glacier was first mapped by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) from U.S. Navy aerial photographs taken 1967-68 and U.S. Landsat imagery taken 1972-73. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Winifred M. Reuning, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation (NSF), Editor, Antarctic Journal of the United States, from 1980.

Venus Glacier is a glacier on the east coast of Alexander Island, Antarctica, 10 nautical miles (18 km) long and 6 nautical miles (11 km) wide at its mouth flowing east into George VI Sound lying between Keystone Cliffs and Triton Point. The coast in this vicinity was first seen from the air by Lincoln Ellsworth on November 23, 1935 and roughly mapped from photos obtained on that flight by W.L.G. Joerg. The glacier was first surveyed in 1949 by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey and named by the United Kingdom Antarctic Place-Names Committee for the planet Venus, the second planet of the Solar System.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from the United States Geological Survey document "Kuiper Scarp" (content from the Geographic Names Information System ).

United States Geological Survey Scientific agency of the United States government

The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The USGS is a fact-finding research organization with no regulatory responsibility.

Geographic Names Information System geographical database

The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its territories. It is a type of gazetteer. GNIS was developed by the United States Geological Survey in cooperation with the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) to promote the standardization of feature names.