Purvis Glacier
Encyclopedia
Purvis Glacier is a glacier
flowing generally northeast into the west side of Possession Bay
, on the north coast of South Georgia
. Charted by the German Antarctic Expedition
under Wilhelm Filchner
, 1911–12, and named after John Murray-Gletscher. It was renamed Purvis Glacier, possibly to avoid confusion with Murray Glacier
in northern Victoria Land
, after Petty Officer J. Purvis, Royal Navy
(Point Purvis
, q.v.).
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
flowing generally northeast into the west side of Possession Bay
Possession Bay
Possession Bay is a bay wide which recedes southwest for , entered southeast of Black Head on the north coast of South Georgia, an island in the southern Atlantic Ocean.-Cook's Second Voyage:...
, on the north coast of South Georgia
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands, known as the South Sandwich...
. Charted by the German Antarctic Expedition
Wilhelm Filchner
Wilhelm Filchner was a German explorer.At the age of 21, he participated in his first expedition, which led him to Russia. Two years later, he travelled alone and on horseback through the Pamir Mountains, from Osh to Murgabh to the upper Wakhan to Tashkurgan and back...
under Wilhelm Filchner
Wilhelm Filchner
Wilhelm Filchner was a German explorer.At the age of 21, he participated in his first expedition, which led him to Russia. Two years later, he travelled alone and on horseback through the Pamir Mountains, from Osh to Murgabh to the upper Wakhan to Tashkurgan and back...
, 1911–12, and named after John Murray-Gletscher. It was renamed Purvis Glacier, possibly to avoid confusion with Murray Glacier
Murray Glacier
Murray Glacier is a valley glacier, long, draining seaward along the east side of Geikie Ridge in the Admiralty Mountains. Its terminus coalesces with that of Dugdale Glacier where both glaciers discharge into Robertson Bay along the north coast of Victoria Land...
in northern Victoria Land
Victoria Land
Victoria Land is a region of Antarctica bounded on the east by the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ross Sea and on the west by Oates Land and Wilkes Land. It was discovered by Captain James Clark Ross in January 1841 and named after the UK's Queen Victoria...
, after Petty Officer J. Purvis, Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(Point Purvis
Point Purvis
Point Purvis is a point lying 1 nautical mile southwest of Tonsberg Point in Husvik Harbor, South Georgia. Charted by DI in 1928 and named after Petty Officer J. Purvis, Royal Navy , a member of the DI hydrographic survey party in this area in the motorboat Alert, 1928-30....
, q.v.).