Hudson Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Hudson Mountains is a group of parasitic cones forming nunatak
s just above the Antarctic ice sheet in west Ellsworth Land
. They lie just east of Cranton Bay
and Pine Island Bay at the eastern extremity of Amundsen Sea
, and are bounded on the north by Cosgrove Ice Shelf
and on the south by Pine Island Glacier
.
The mountains were discovered by members of the USAS in flights from the USS Bear in February 1940, and further delineated from air photos taken by USN Operation Highjump
in December 1946. The full extent of the group was mapped by USGS
from US Navy air photos of 1966. Named by US-SCAN after Capt. William L. Hudson, commander of the Peacock during USEE, 1838-42. The Peacock, accompanied by the Flying Fish under Lt. Walker, cruised along the edge of the pack to the north of this area for several days during the latter part of March 1839.
Given the fact that they are little-eroded, and that steam was reported in 1974, and an unconfirmed report of an eruption detected by satellite in 1985, the Hudson Mountains may be active.
On January, 2008, the British Antarctic Survey
(Bas) scientists led by Hugh Corr and David Vaughan, reported (in the journal Nature Geoscience
) that 2,200 years ago, a volcano
had a subglacial eruption
under the Antarctic ice sheet (based on airborne survey
with radar images). The biggest eruption in the last 10,000 years, the volcanic ash was found deposited on the ice surface under the Hudson Mountains, close to Pine Island Glacier.
Nunatak
A nunatak is an exposed, often rocky element of a ridge, mountain, or peak not covered with ice or snow within an ice field or glacier. The term is typically used in areas where a permanent ice sheet is present...
s just above the Antarctic ice sheet in west Ellsworth Land
Ellsworth Land
Ellsworth Land is that portion of the Antarctic continent bounded on the west by Marie Byrd Land, on the north by Bellingshausen Sea, on the northeast by the base of Antarctic Peninsula, and on the east by the western margin of Ronne Ice Shelf. It extends between 103°24'W and 79°45'W...
. They lie just east of Cranton Bay
Cranton Bay
Cranton Bay is a bay about 20 nautical miles long and wide, lying south of Canisteo Peninsula at the east end of Amundsen Sea. The south limit of the bay is formed by the Backer Islands and an ice shelf which separates this bay from Pine Island Bay. Mapped from air photos taken by U.S. Navy...
and Pine Island Bay at the eastern extremity of Amundsen Sea
Amundsen Sea
The Amundsen Sea is an arm of the Southern Ocean off Marie Byrd Land in western Antarctica. It is bounded by Cape Flying Fish, the northwestern tip of Thurston Island to the east and Cape Dart on Siple Island to the west. East of Cape Flying Fish starts the Bellingshausen Sea. West of Cape Dart is...
, and are bounded on the north by Cosgrove Ice Shelf
Cosgrove Ice Shelf
Cosgrove Ice Shelf is a long by wide ice shelf, occupying the inner part of the embayment between King Peninsula and Canisteo Peninsula, Antarctica. It was mapped from air photos taken by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump, 1946–47, and named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for...
and on the south by Pine Island Glacier
Pine Island Glacier
- Ice sheet drainage :The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest mass of ice on earth, containing a volume of water equivalent to of global sea level. The ice sheet forms from snow which falls onto the continent and compacts under its own weight. The ice then moves under its own weight toward the...
.
The mountains were discovered by members of the USAS in flights from the USS Bear in February 1940, and further delineated from air photos taken by USN Operation Highjump
Operation Highjump
Operation Highjump , officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program, 1946-1947, was a United States Navy operation organized by RADM Richard E. Byrd Jr. USN, , Officer in Charge, Task Force 68, and led by RADM Richard H. Cruzen, USN, Commanding Officer, Task Force 68....
in December 1946. The full extent of the group was mapped by USGS
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 US Navy air photos of 1966. Named by US-SCAN after Capt. William L. Hudson, commander of the Peacock during USEE, 1838-42. The Peacock, accompanied by the Flying Fish under Lt. Walker, cruised along the edge of the pack to the north of this area for several days during the latter part of March 1839.
Given the fact that they are little-eroded, and that steam was reported in 1974, and an unconfirmed report of an eruption detected by satellite in 1985, the Hudson Mountains may be active.
On January, 2008, the British Antarctic Survey
British Antarctic Survey
The British Antarctic Survey is the United Kingdom's national Antarctic operation and has an active role in Antarctic affairs. BAS is part of the Natural Environment Research Council and has over 400 staff. It operates five research stations, two ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica....
(Bas) scientists led by Hugh Corr and David Vaughan, reported (in the journal Nature Geoscience
Nature Geoscience
Nature Geoscience is a monthly, peer reviewed, scientific journal published by Nature Publishing Group. The Chief Editor is Heike Langenberg. The first issue was published in January 2008.-Scope:...
) that 2,200 years ago, a volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
had a subglacial eruption
Subglacial eruption
A subglacial eruption is a volcanic eruption that has occurred under ice, or under a glacier. Subglacial eruptions can cause dangerous floods, lahars and create hyaloclastite and pillow lava. Subglacial eruptions sometimes form a subglacial volcano called a tuya. Tuyas in Iceland are called table...
under the Antarctic ice sheet (based on airborne survey
Aerial survey
Aerial survey is a geomatics method of collecting information by using aerial photography, LiDAR or from remote sensing imagery using other bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared, gamma, or ultraviolet. It can also refer to the chart or map made by analysing a region from the air...
with radar images). The biggest eruption in the last 10,000 years, the volcanic ash was found deposited on the ice surface under the Hudson Mountains, close to Pine Island Glacier.