Rippon Glacier is a small glacier

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...

 located in Kemp Land

Kemp Land

Kemp Land is a thin sliver of Antarctica including, and lying inland from, the Kemp Coast. Part of the Australian Antarctic claim it is defined as lying between 56° 25' E and 59° 34' E, and, as with other sectors of the Antarctic, is deemed as being limited by the 60° S parallel. It is bounded in...

, Australian Antarctic Territory

Australian Antarctic Territory

The Australian Antarctic Territory is a part of Antarctica. It was claimed by the United Kingdom and placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1933. It is the largest territory of Antarctica claimed by any nation...

, East Antarctica

East Antarctica

East Antarctica, also called Greater Antarctica, constitutes the majority of the Antarctic continent, lying on the Indian Ocean side of the Transantarctic Mountains...

. It is close east of Seaton Glacier

Seaton Glacier

Seaton Glacier is a glacier 17 miles long, flowing southeast into Edward VIII Ice Shelf at the northwest part of Edward VIII Bay. It was mapped by Norwegian cartographers from aerial photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936–37, remapped, 1954–58, by ANARE and named by ANCA in 1958...

, flowing southward into Edward VIII Ice Shelf

Edward VIII Bay

Edward VIII Bay is a bay about 20 miles in extent, located between Edward VIII Plateau and the Øygarden Group of islands. The head of the bay is occupied by the Edward VIII Ice Shelf...

.

Discovery and naming

Rippon Glacier was mapped from aerial photos taken by ANARE (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions

Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions

The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions is the historical name for the Australian Antarctic Program administered for Australia by the Australian Antarctic Division .-The ANARE Name:...

) in 1956, and named for Sgt. R. Rippon, RAAF

Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...

, airframe fitter at Mawson Station

Mawson Station

Mawson Station is one of three permanent Australian bases in the Australian Antarctic Territory of East Antarctica. Named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the base is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division...

 in 1959.

Weather conditions

Just to the south of Rippon Glacier is a large valley formed by the Robert

Robert Glacier

Robert Glacier is the eastern of two glaciers entering the southern part of Edward VIII Bay. It was seen by Robert Dovers and G. Schwartz in 1954 while carrying out a sledge journey and survey of Edward VIII Bay. Named by ANCA for Dovers, who was surveyor and officer in charge at Mawson Station in...

 and Wilma

Wilma Glacier

Wilma Glacier is the western of two glaciers entering the southern part of Edward VIII Ice Shelf in Kemp Land, Australian Antarctic Territory, East Antarctica. The other glacier is Robert Glacier.-Discovery and naming:...

 Glaciers. These two glaciers, along with the Seaton

Seaton Glacier

Seaton Glacier is a glacier 17 miles long, flowing southeast into Edward VIII Ice Shelf at the northwest part of Edward VIII Bay. It was mapped by Norwegian cartographers from aerial photos taken by the Lars Christensen Expedition, 1936–37, remapped, 1954–58, by ANARE and named by ANCA in 1958...

 and Rippon Glaciers, all flow into the King Edward Ice Shelf

Edward VIII Bay

Edward VIII Bay is a bay about 20 miles in extent, located between Edward VIII Plateau and the Øygarden Group of islands. The head of the bay is occupied by the Edward VIII Ice Shelf...

. To the west are the Napier Mountains

Napier Mountains

The Napier Mountains are a group of more-or-less separated peaks, the highest being Mount Elkins, at about 2,300 meters above sea level. This mountain range is located in Enderby Land, in the claimed Australian Antarctic Territory, East Antarctica.-Location:...

, running northwest from Mount Elkins

Mount Elkins

Mount Elkins, also known as Jökelen is a dark, steep-sided mountain with three major peaks, the highest 2,300 metres above sea level. This peak is located in the Napier Mountains, in Enderby Land. Enderby Land is part of the Australian Antarctic Territory, in East Antarctica...

. Still further west are the Tula Mountains

Tula Mountains

Tula Mountains is a group of extensive mountains lying immediately eastward of Amundsen Bay in Enderby Land, Antarctica. They were discovered on January 14, 1930 by the British Australian New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition under Mawson and named "Tula Range" by him after John Biscoe's brig,...

, beyond which the Beaver Glacier

Beaver Glacier (Enderby Land)

Beaver Glacier is a glacier about long and wide, flowing west into Amundsen Bay between Auster Glacier and Mount Gleadell. The head of Beaver Glacier is located very close to the base of Mount King in Enderby Land...

 flows into Amundsen Bay

Amundsen Bay

Amundsen Bay, also known as Ice Bay, is a long embayment wide, close west of the Tula Mountains in Enderby Land, Antarctica. The bay was seen as a large pack-filled recession in the coastline by Sir Douglas Mawson on January 14, 1930...

. Collectively, these terrain features significantly modify weather produced by synoptic scale

Synoptic scale meteorology

The synoptic scale in meteorology is a horizontal length scale of the order of 1000 kilometres or more. This corresponds to a horizontal scale typical of mid-latitude depressions...

 systems. Dramatic changes can occur over short distances and in short time intervals. One problem with some moist southeasterly airstreams is cloud formation northwest of Seaton and Rippon Glaciers that produces whiteout

Whiteout (weather)

Whiteout is a weather condition in which visibility and contrast are severely reduced by snow or sand. The horizon disappears completely and there are no reference points at all, leaving the individual with a distorted orientation...

 conditions looking inland of Rippon Depot.

Flora

The following species have been sighted within 1.0 degrees of Rippon Glacier:

Scientific Name	Authority	Common Name	Observations
Bryum cf. caespiticium		Tufted Thread-moss
Bryum pseudotriquetrum		Marsh Bryum
Bryum urbanskyi

Fauna

The following species have been sighted within 1.0 degrees of Rippon Glacier:

Scientific Name	Authority	Common Name	Observations
Aptenodytes forsteri Emperor Penguin The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. The male and female are similar in plumage and size, reaching in height and weighing anywhere from . The dorsal side and head are black and sharply delineated from the white belly,...	Gray George Robert Gray George Robert Gray FRS was an English zoologist and author, and head of the ornithological section of the British Museum, now the Natural History Museum, in London for forty-one years... , 1844	Emperor Penguin Emperor Penguin The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. The male and female are similar in plumage and size, reaching in height and weighing anywhere from . The dorsal side and head are black and sharply delineated from the white belly,...
Balaenoptera acutorostrata Minke Whale Minke whale , or lesser rorqual, is a name given to two species of marine mammal belonging to a clade within the suborder of baleen whales. The minke whale was given its official designation by Lacepède in 1804, who described a dwarf form of Balænoptera acuto-rostrata...	Lacépède,1804	Minke Whale Minke Whale Minke whale , or lesser rorqual, is a name given to two species of marine mammal belonging to a clade within the suborder of baleen whales. The minke whale was given its official designation by Lacepède in 1804, who described a dwarf form of Balænoptera acuto-rostrata...
Balaenoptera bonaerensis Antarctic Minke Whale The Antarctic minke whale or southern minke whale , is a species of minke whale within the suborder of baleen whales.-Taxonomy:...	Burmeister Hermann Burmeister Karl Hermann Konrad Burmeister was a German zoologist, entomologist, and herpetologist.Burmeister was born in Stralsund and became a professor of Zoology at the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg from 1837 to 1861... , 1867	Antarctic Minke Whale Antarctic Minke Whale The Antarctic minke whale or southern minke whale , is a species of minke whale within the suborder of baleen whales.-Taxonomy:...  (also known as the 'Dark-shoulder Minke Whale")
Balaenoptera musculus Blue Whale The blue whale is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales . At in length and or more in weight, it is the largest known animal to have ever existed....	Linnaeus, 1758	Blue Whale Blue Whale The blue whale is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales . At in length and or more in weight, it is the largest known animal to have ever existed....
Daption capense Cape Petrel The Cape Petrel also called Cape Pigeon or Pintado Petrel, is a common seabird of the Southern Ocean from the family Procellariidae. It is the only member of the genus Daption, and is allied to the fulmarine petrels, and the Giant Petrels. It is also sometimes known as the Cape Fulmar...	Linnaeus, 1758	Cape Petrel Cape Petrel The Cape Petrel also called Cape Pigeon or Pintado Petrel, is a common seabird of the Southern Ocean from the family Procellariidae. It is the only member of the genus Daption, and is allied to the fulmarine petrels, and the Giant Petrels. It is also sometimes known as the Cape Fulmar...
Euphausia superba Antarctic krill Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is a species of krill found in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. It is a shrimp-like crustacean that lives in large schools, called swarms, sometimes reaching densities of 10,000–30,000 individual animals per cubic metre...	Dana James Dwight Dana James Dwight Dana was an American geologist, mineralogist and zoologist. He made pioneering studies of mountain-building, volcanic activity, and the origin and structure of continents and oceans around the world.-Early life and career:... , 1852	Antarctic krill Antarctic krill Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is a species of krill found in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. It is a shrimp-like crustacean that lives in large schools, called swarms, sometimes reaching densities of 10,000–30,000 individual animals per cubic metre...
Fulmarus glacialoides Southern Fulmar The Southern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialoides, is a seabird of the Southern Hemisphere. Along with the Northern Fulmar, F. glacialis, it belongs to the fulmar genus Fulmarus in the family Procellariidae, the true petrels...	Smith Andrew Smith (zoologist) Sir Andrew Smith KCB was a Scottish surgeon, explorer, ethnologist and zoologist. He is considered the father of Zoology in South Africa having described many species across a wide range of groups in his major work, Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa.Smith was born in Hawick, Roxburghshire... ,1840	Southern Fulmar Southern Fulmar The Southern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialoides, is a seabird of the Southern Hemisphere. Along with the Northern Fulmar, F. glacialis, it belongs to the fulmar genus Fulmarus in the family Procellariidae, the true petrels...
Lobodon carcinophaga Crabeater Seal The crabeater seal, Lobodon carcinophagus, is a true seal with a circumpolar distribution around the coast of Antarctica. They are medium to large-sized , relatively slender and pale-colored, found primarily on the free floating pack ice that extends seasonally out from the Antarctic coast, which...	Hombron Jacques Bernard Hombron Doctor Jacques Bernard Hombron was a French naval surgeon and naturalist.Hombron served on the French voyage of the Astrolabe and Zelee between 1837 and 1840 to investigate the perimeter of Antarctica. He described a number of plants and animals with Honoré Jacquinot.-See also:* European and...  and Jacquinot Honoré Jacquinot Honoré Jacquinot was a French surgeon and zoologist. Jacquinot was the younger brother of the naval officer Charles Hector Jacquinot, and sailed with him as a naturalist on La Zelee on Dumont d'Urville's Astrolabe expedition . With J. B... ,1842	Crabeater Seal Crabeater Seal The crabeater seal, Lobodon carcinophagus, is a true seal with a circumpolar distribution around the coast of Antarctica. They are medium to large-sized , relatively slender and pale-colored, found primarily on the free floating pack ice that extends seasonally out from the Antarctic coast, which...
Oceanites oceanicus	Kuhl Heinrich Kuhl Heinrich Kuhl was a German naturalist and zoologist.Kuhl was born in Hanau. He became assistant to Coenraad Jacob Temminck at the Leiden museum. In 1817 he published a monograph on bats and in 1819 he published Conspectus psittacorum... , 1820	Wilson's Storm Petrel
Orcinus orca	Linnaeus, 1758	Killer Whale
Pagodroma nivea Snow Petrel The Snow Petrel is the only member of the genus Pagodroma. It is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in Antarctica and has been seen at the South Pole. It has the most southerly breeding distribution of any bird.-Taxonomy:...	Forster Johann Reinhold Forster Johann Reinhold Forster was a German Lutheran pastor and naturalist of partial Scottish descent who made contributions to the early ornithology of Europe and North America... ,1777	Snow Petrel Snow Petrel The Snow Petrel is the only member of the genus Pagodroma. It is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in Antarctica and has been seen at the South Pole. It has the most southerly breeding distribution of any bird.-Taxonomy:...
Puffinus spp. Shearwater Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. There are more than 30 species of shearwaters, a few larger ones in the genus Calonectris and many smaller species in the genus Puffinus...	Linnaeus, 1758	Shearwater Shearwater Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. There are more than 30 species of shearwaters, a few larger ones in the genus Calonectris and many smaller species in the genus Puffinus...
Pygoscelis adeliae Adelie Penguin The Adélie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae, is a species of penguin common along the entire Antarctic coast. They are among the most southerly distributed of all seabirds, as are the Emperor Penguin, the South Polar Skua, the Wilson's Storm Petrel, the Snow Petrel, and the Antarctic Petrel...	Hombron Jacques Bernard Hombron Doctor Jacques Bernard Hombron was a French naval surgeon and naturalist.Hombron served on the French voyage of the Astrolabe and Zelee between 1837 and 1840 to investigate the perimeter of Antarctica. He described a number of plants and animals with Honoré Jacquinot.-See also:* European and...  and Jacquinot Honoré Jacquinot Honoré Jacquinot was a French surgeon and zoologist. Jacquinot was the younger brother of the naval officer Charles Hector Jacquinot, and sailed with him as a naturalist on La Zelee on Dumont d'Urville's Astrolabe expedition . With J. B... ,1841	Adelie Penguin Adelie Penguin The Adélie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae, is a species of penguin common along the entire Antarctic coast. They are among the most southerly distributed of all seabirds, as are the Emperor Penguin, the South Polar Skua, the Wilson's Storm Petrel, the Snow Petrel, and the Antarctic Petrel...
Thalassoica antarctica Antarctic Petrel The Antarctic Petrel is a boldly marked dark brown and white petrel, found in Antarctica, most commonly in the Ross and Weddell seas. They eat Antarctic krill, fish, and small squid...	Gmelin Johann Friedrich Gmelin Johann Friedrich Gmelin was a German naturalist, botanist, entomologist, herpetologist and malacologist.- Education :Johann Friedrich Gmelin was born as the eldest son of Philipp Friedrich Gmelin in 1748 in Tübingen... ,1789	Antarctic Petrel Antarctic Petrel The Antarctic Petrel is a boldly marked dark brown and white petrel, found in Antarctica, most commonly in the Ross and Weddell seas. They eat Antarctic krill, fish, and small squid...

• Buellia frigida
• Caloplaca athallina
• Caloplaca citrina
• Candelariella flava
• Japewia tornoensis
• Lecanora expectans
• Physcia caesia
• Physcia dubia
• Pseudephebe minuscula
• Rinodina olivaceobrunnea
• Xanthoria mawsonii

External links

• Australian Antarctic Division
• Australian Antarctic Gazetteer
• Australian Antarctic Names and Medals Committee (AANMC)
• United States Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
• Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)
• Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica
• PDF Map of the Australian Antarctic Territory
• Mawson Station
• ANARE Club
• List of Peaks in Enderby Land
• Click here to see an image of helicopters refueling at a temporary fuel depot on Rippon Glacier in December 1979.