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Ferrar Glacier ()is a
glacier A glacier (; or ) is a persistent body of dense ice, a form of rock, that is constantly moving downhill under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires ...
in
Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...
. It is about long, flowing from the plateau of
Victoria Land Victoria Land is a region in eastern Antarctica which fronts the western side of the Ross Sea and the Ross Ice Shelf, extending southward from about 70°30'S to 78th parallel south, 78°00'S, and westward from the Ross Sea to the edge of the Ant ...
west of the
Royal Society Range The Royal Society Range () is a majestic range of mountains in Victoria Land, Antarctica, rising to along the west shore of McMurdo Sound between the Koettlitz, Skelton and Ferrar Glaciers. They are south of the Kukri Hills, southeast of the Q ...
to New Harbour in
McMurdo Sound The McMurdo Sound is a sound in Antarctica, known as the southernmost passable body of water in the world, located approximately from the South Pole. Captain James Clark Ross discovered the sound in February 1841 and named it after Lieutenant ...
. The glacier makes a right (east) turn northeast of
Knobhead The Quartermain Mountains ( ) are a group of exposed mountains in Antarctica, about long, typical of ice-free features of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Victoria Land. They are east of the Lashly Mountains, south of the Asgard Range, west of the Kukr ...
, where it where it is apposed, i.e., joined in Siamese-twin fashion, to
Taylor Glacier The Taylor Glacier () is a glacier in Antarctica about long, flowing from the plateau of Victoria Land into the western end of Taylor Valley, north of the Kukri Hills. It flows to the south of the Asgard Range. The middle part of the glacier is ...
. From there, it continues east along the south side of
Kukri Hills Kukri Hills () is a prominent east-west trending range, about long and over high, forming the divide between Ferrar Glacier on the south and Taylor Glacier and Taylor Valley on the north, in Victoria Land, Antarctica. They are south of the Asgar ...
to New Harbor.


Discovery and naming

Ferrar Glacier was discovered by the
British National Antarctic Expedition The ''Discovery'' Expedition of 1901–1904, known officially as the British National Antarctic Expedition, was the first official British exploration of the Antarctic regions since the voyage of James Clark Ross sixty years earlier (1839–1 ...
, (1901–04) under Captain
Robert Falcon Scott Captain Robert Falcon Scott (6 June 1868 – ) was a British Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, ''Discovery'' expedition of 1901–04 and the Terra Nova Expedition ...
, who named this feature for Hartley T. Ferrar, geologist of the expedition. The name Ferrar Glacier was originally applied both to the part of this glacier below its right turn and to the present Taylor Glacier.
Thomas Griffith Taylor Thomas Griffith "Grif" Taylor (1 December 1880 – 5 November 1963) was an English-born geographer, anthropologist and world explorer. He was a survivor of Captain Robert Scott's Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica (1910–1913). Taylor was a ...
, geologist of the
British Antarctic Expedition, 1910–13 The ''Terra Nova'' Expedition, officially the British Antarctic Expedition, was an expedition to Antarctica which took place between 1910 and 1913. Led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, the expedition had various scientific and geographical objec ...
, under Scott, found evidence that these are not two parts of a single glacier but are two glaciers apposed. With this discovery Scott gave the names Ferrar Glacier and Taylor Glacier essentially as now applied; the Taylor Glacier makes a left turn at Cavendish Rocks and drains east along the north side of the Kukri Hills.


Glaciology

The Ferrar Glacier flows from the Taylor Dome east to a floating terminus in
McMurdo Sound The McMurdo Sound is a sound in Antarctica, known as the southernmost passable body of water in the world, located approximately from the South Pole. Captain James Clark Ross discovered the sound in February 1841 and named it after Lieutenant ...
. Flow is slow, usually less than per year. Large-scale topographic features strongly affect the glacier's path, as the ice thins and flows over them. There are two topographic dams. At upstream from the grounding line the ice thickness is reduced to , and at from the grounding line it is reduced to about . The profile of the glacier has not changed much in the past 4 million years, unlike other glaciers in the region. During the
Last Glacial Maximum The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), also referred to as the Last Glacial Coldest Period, was the most recent time during the Last Glacial Period where ice sheets were at their greatest extent between 26,000 and 20,000 years ago. Ice sheets covered m ...
there were only insignificant changes in the upper reaches of the glacier, and during the present
Holocene The Holocene () is the current geologic time scale, geological epoch, beginning approximately 11,700 years ago. It follows the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene to ...
there was no pronounced thinning.


Course

The Ferrar Glacier originates in the Taylor Dome near the
Antarctic Plateau The Antarctic Plateau, Polar Plateau or King Haakon VII Plateau is a large area of East Antarctica that extends over a diameter of about , and includes the region of the geographic South Pole and the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station. Thi ...
, to the east of Mount Blackwelder. It flows northeast, and is fed by Tedrow Glacier just west of
Table Mountain Table Mountain (; ) is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, cableway or hik ...
. Past
Knobhead The Quartermain Mountains ( ) are a group of exposed mountains in Antarctica, about long, typical of ice-free features of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Victoria Land. They are east of the Lashly Mountains, south of the Asgard Range, west of the Kukr ...
part of the left side of the glacier splits off to feed
Taylor Glacier The Taylor Glacier () is a glacier in Antarctica about long, flowing from the plateau of Victoria Land into the western end of Taylor Valley, north of the Kukri Hills. It flows to the south of the Asgard Range. The middle part of the glacier is ...
, to the north. The Ferrar Glacier turns east to flow past the steep
Kukri Hills Kukri Hills () is a prominent east-west trending range, about long and over high, forming the divide between Ferrar Glacier on the south and Taylor Glacier and Taylor Valley on the north, in Victoria Land, Antarctica. They are south of the Asgar ...
to the north and the
Royal Society Range The Royal Society Range () is a majestic range of mountains in Victoria Land, Antarctica, rising to along the west shore of McMurdo Sound between the Koettlitz, Skelton and Ferrar Glaciers. They are south of the Kukri Hills, southeast of the Q ...
to the south. It is joined from the right (south) by Emmanuel Glacier, Zoller Glacier, Darkowski Glacier, Bol Glacier, Condit Glacier, Descent Glacier and Overflow Glacier. From the right it is joined by Kitticarrara Glacier and Double Curtain Glacier before flowing into New Harbor between Mount Barnes to the north and Butter Point to the south.


Head


Taylor Dome

An elliptical ice dome, long east-southeast–west-northwest and wide, rising to , centered about west-northwest Mount Crean,
Lashly Mountains The Lashly Mountains () are a small group of mountains, the most prominent at being Mount Crean, standing south of the head of Taylor Glacier and west of Lashly Glacier, in Victoria Land, Antarctica. Exploration and naming The Lashly Mountains ...
. The feature was delineated ,by the SPRI-NSF-TUD airborne radio echo sounding program, 1967–79. The name was first used by David J. Drewry of SPRI in 1980. The dome is one of the local sources of ice to the Taylor Glacier, from which it is named. Approved by US-ACAN in 1994. Not: McDoom, McMurdo Dome, Taylor Ice-Dome.


Monastery Nunatak

. A spectacular isolated nunatak at the head of Ferrar Glacier, between
Mount Feather The Quartermain Mountains ( ) are a group of exposed mountains in Antarctica, about long, typical of ice-free features of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Victoria Land. They are east of the Lashly Mountains, south of the Asgard Range, west of the Kukr ...
and
Pivot Peak The Wilkniss Mountains () form a prominent group of conical peaks and mountains, long running north–south, located east-southeast of Mount Feather in the Quartermain Mountains, Victoria Land, Antarctica. The mountains are wide in the north ...
. A cap of pale sandstone, with vertical walls, standing above a horizontal base of black dolerite, strongly suggests a Tibetan monastery. Named by the New Zealand Northern Survey Party of the CTAE (1958-59).


Left tributaries

Tributaries from the left (north) include:


Hedley Glacier

. A small glacier from Mount Coates in the Kukri Hills, Victoria Land, flowing south into Ferrar Glacier. Named by the Western Journey Party of British Antarctic Expedition (BrAE), 1910-13, probably for Charles Hedley, of the Australian Museum, whose studies and reports on the Mollusca contributed to Scott's BrAE, 1910-13, and to BrAE, 1907-09, led by Shackleton.


Dun Glacier

. A short, steep tributary to the Ferrar Glacier. It descends the southern side of Kukri Hills midway between Mount Coates and Sentinel Peak. Named by the Western Journey Party led by
Thomas Griffith Taylor Thomas Griffith "Grif" Taylor (1 December 1880 – 5 November 1963) was an English-born geographer, anthropologist and world explorer. He was a survivor of Captain Robert Scott's Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica (1910–1913). Taylor was a ...
of the BrAE (1910-13) under Scott.


Kitticarrara Glacier

. Short, steep glacier south of Howard Glacier in the Kukri Hills, flowing east-southeast into Ferrar Glacier. Named by the Western Journey Party, led by Griffith Taylor, of the BrAE, 1910-13. The name was suggested by F. Debenham after a sheep station in New South Wales.


Double Curtain Glacier

. Small glacier on the south slope of the Kukri Hills, just southwest of Mount Barnes, flowing toward the mouth of Ferrar Glacier. Mapped by the BrAE under Scott, 1910-13, and so named by them because of its shape.


Right tributaries

Tributaries from the right (south) include:


Palais Glacier

. A broad glacier, about long, flowing north between Wilkniss Mountains and Colwell Massif to enter Ferrar Glacier. Named by US-ACAN in 1994 after Julie Michelle Palais, glaciologist, who conducted field research in Antarctica during five seasons at Dome Charlie and Mount Erebus, 1978-89; from 1991, Program Director for Polar Glaciology, Office of Polar Programs, NSF; from 1994, member of the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names, U.S. Board on Geographic Names.


Rotunda Glacier

. A tributary glacier flowing north between Ugolini Peak and La Count Mountain into upper Ferrar Glacier. The name Rotunda Glacier was used for this feature in the report "Tephra in Glacier Ice" by J.R. Keys, P.W. Anderton, and P.R. Kyle following the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. Named in association with the butte of the same name on the west side of the glacier.


Blankenship Glacier

. A steep glacier which descends north between La Count Mountain and Bubble Spur to enter upper Ferrar Glacier. Named by US-ACAN in 1992 after Donald D. Blankenship of the Geophysical and Polar Research Center, University of Wisconsin; geophysical researcher at Dome Charlie in East Antarctica for several seasons, 1978-82; researcher of Siple Coast ice streams in West Antarctica, 1983-88; at Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, from 1989.


Tedrow Glacier

. Tributary Glacier which flows north into Ferrar Glacier along the west side of
Table Mountain Table Mountain (; ) is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa. It is a significant tourist attraction, with many visitors using the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, cableway or hik ...
. Named by the US-ACAN for John C.F. Tedrow, USARP project leader for soil studies, who worked at McMurdo Station, 1961-62.


Emmanuel Glacier

. Glacier in the Royal Society Range, descending from
Mount Lister Mount Lister () is a massive mountain, high, forming the highest point in the Royal Society Range of Victoria Land, Antarctica. It was discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition (1901–1904) which named it for Lord Joseph Lister, ...
northwestward between Table Mountain and Cathedral Rocks to enter Ferrar Glacier. Named by the BrAE (1910-13) after Emmanuel College, Cambridge, England.


Carleton Glacier

. Glacier which drains the northwest slopes of
Mount Lister Mount Lister () is a massive mountain, high, forming the highest point in the Royal Society Range of Victoria Land, Antarctica. It was discovered by the British National Antarctic Expedition (1901–1904) which named it for Lord Joseph Lister, ...
and flows north into the Emmanuel Glacier. Mapped by USGS from ground surveys and Navy air photos. Named by US-ACAN in 1963 after Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, which has sent researchers to Antarctica, and in association with nearby Rutgers Glacier.


Bindschadler Glacier

. A glacier in the northwest part of Royal Society Range, flowing north between Table Mountain and Platform Spur to join Emmanuel Glacier. Named by US-ACAN in 1992 after glaciologist Robert A. Bindschadler of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; from 1983 a principal investigator for USARP studies of the West Antarctic ice sheet including dynamics of ice streams in the Siple Coast area, their interaction with the Ross Ice Shelf, and the role of polar ice sheets in global climate change.


Zoller Glacier

. Glacier in the Cathedral Rocks between Emmanuel and Darkowski Glaciers, flowing north into the Ferrar Glacier. Charted by the BrAE under Scott, 1910-13. Named by the US-ACAN in 1964 for Lieutenant John E. Zoller, United States Navy, chaplain with the winter party of 1957 at Little America V.


Darkowski Glacier

. Glacier in the Cathedral Rocks, flowing north between Zoller and Bol Glaciers into the Ferrar Glacier of Victoria Land. Charted by the BrAE under Scott, 1910-13. Named by the US-ACAN in 1964 for Lieutenant Leon S. Darkowski, United States Navy, chaplain in 1957 at the Naval Air Facility on McMurdo Sound.


Bol Glacier

. Glacier between Darkowski and Condit Glaciers, flowing north from the Cathedral Rocks into Ferrar Glacier. Named by the US-ACAN in 1964, for Lieutenant Commander Peter Bol, United States Navy, chaplain with the winter party of 1956 at the Naval Air Facility on McMurdo Sound.


Condit Glacier

. Glacier at the E side of Cathedral Rocks, flowing north into the Ferrar Glacier. Charted by the BrAE under Scott, 1910-13. Named by the US-ACAN in 1964 for Lieutenant (j.g.) John C. Condit, United States Navy, chaplain with the winter party of 1956 at the Naval Air Facility on McMurdo Sound.


Descent Glacier

. Short, steep glacier between Briggs Hill and Condit Glacier, flowing northwest from Descent Pass into Ferrar Glacier, in Victoria Land. So named because of the adventurous descent made here by the party led by Armitage of the BrNAE, 1901-04. The name seems to have been first used on maps of the BrAE, 1910-13.


Overflow Glacier

. Steep tributary glacier spilling into Ferrar Glacier from the south, just east of Briggs Hill. Given this descriptive name by the Western Journey Party, led by Taylor, of the BrAE, 1910-13.


References


Sources

* * * * * {{Glaciers in the Antarctic Royal Society Range Glaciers of Scott Coast