Name details

McMurdo Shear Zone

New Zealand Gazetteer Id 140431

Feature type: Shear zone

Origin

This name originates from New Zealand. It is part of the New Zealand Gazetteer and the SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica.

Narrative

The dynamic boundary between the relatively fast-moving Ross Ice Shelf to the east and the slower moving McMurdo Ice Shelf to the west. An area of complex crevassing, fracturing, and folds in the ice. Averaging 9-20km wide and approximately 160km long, extending from southeast of Minna Bluff to just east of The Knoll at Cape Crozier.

Named For

The zone was first observed and crossed by Robert Scott’s Discovery Expedition at the beginning of the 20th Century (1901-1904). This hazardous zone was subsequently encountered and crossed by teams from Shackleton’s Nimrod Expedition (1907-1909), by Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition (1910-1913), and by the Ross Sea Party of Shackleton’s Endurance expedition (1914-1917). The zone was next encountered by teams operating in the McMurdo region during the 1950’s prior to and during the International Geophysical Year. It was crossed by operational traverses in the 1960’s in support of a broad array of science projects prior to a shift to supporting science via skied aircraft. The name first came into scientific use ~1996-1998 as the feature was more accurately described and defined using ground penetrating radar, during efforts to map a route for the South Polar Overland Traverse (SPOT). As a dynamic feature McMurdo Shear Zone continues to require active management to ensure that it can be crossed safely by SPOT and other traverses in support of science.

Location

Images

No images of this place could be found.

Map

Source

Comments

Height at reference point

Approval status

Display Scales

Related information