Brunt Ice Shelf
Encyclopedia
The Brunt Ice Shelf borders the Antarctic coast of Coats Land
between Dawson-Lambton Glacier
and Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue. It was the location of the base of the Royal Society Expedition, 1955–59 which was taken over as the British
Halley Research Station
. It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee
after David Brunt
, British meteorologist, Physical Secretary of the Royal Society
, 1948–57, who was responsible for the initiation of the Royal Society Expedition to this ice shelf in 1955.
The Brunt Icefalls (75°55′S 25°0′W) extend along Caird Coast
for about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi), where the steep ice-covered coast descends to Brunt Ice Shelf. The icefalls were discovered November 5, 1967, in the course of a United States Navy
Squadron VXE-6
flight over the coast in LC-130 aircraft, and was plotted by the United States Geological Survey
from air photos obtained at that time. It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
in association with the Brunt Ice Shelf.
Coats Land
Coats Land is a region in Antarctica which lies westward of Queen Maud Land and forms the eastern shore of the Weddell Sea, extending in a general northeast-southwest direction between 20º00´W and 36º00´W. The northeast part was discovered from the Scotia by William S. Bruce, leader of the Scottish...
between Dawson-Lambton Glacier
Dawson-Lambton Glacier
Dawson-Lambton Glacier is a heavily-crevassed glacier entering southeastern Weddell Sea immediately west of Brunt Ice Shelf. Discovered in January 1915 by a British expedition led by Schackleton. He named it for Elizabeth Dawson-Lambton, benefactress of the Shackleton expeditions....
and Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue. It was the location of the base of the Royal Society Expedition, 1955–59 which was taken over as the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Halley Research Station
Halley Research Station
Halley Research Station, run by the British Antarctic Survey, is located on the Brunt Ice Shelf floating on the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. It is a British research facility dedicated to the study of the Earth's atmosphere...
. It was named by the UK Antarctic Place-names Committee
UK Antarctic Place-Names Committee
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 and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
after David Brunt
David Brunt
Sir David Brunt KBE was a Welsh meteorologist.-Early life:He was born in Staylittle, Montgomeryshire, Wales, the youngest of the nine children of farmworker John Brunt. His father moved the family to the mining district on Monmouthshire to work as a coal miner. David attended the local Abertillery...
, British meteorologist, Physical Secretary of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, 1948–57, who was responsible for the initiation of the Royal Society Expedition to this ice shelf in 1955.
The Brunt Icefalls (75°55′S 25°0′W) extend along Caird Coast
Caird Coast
Caird Coast is that portion of the coast of Coats Land lying between the terminus of Stancomb-Wills Glacier, in 20º00´W, and the vicinity of the Hayes Glacier, in 27º54´W...
for about 80 kilometres (49.7 mi), where the steep ice-covered coast descends to Brunt Ice Shelf. The icefalls were discovered November 5, 1967, in the course of a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Squadron VXE-6
VXE-6
VXE-6, Antarctic Development Squadron 6 , commonly referred to by its nickname, The Puckered Penguins was a United States Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron based at McMurdo Station, Antarctica...
flight over the coast in LC-130 aircraft, and was plotted by the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
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,...
from air photos obtained at that time. It was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names
The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names is an advisory committee of the United States Board on Geographic Names responsible for recommending names for features in Antarctica...
in association with the Brunt Ice Shelf.