Mount Siple
Encyclopedia
Mount Siple is a potentially active shield volcano
, rising to 3110 metres (10,203 ft) and dominating the northwest part of Siple Island
, which is separated from the Bakutis Coast
, Marie Byrd Land
, by the Getz Ice Shelf
. Its youthful appearance strongly suggests that it last erupted in Holocene
. It is capped by a 4 kilometre summit caldera
, and tuff cones lie on the lower flanks. Its massive volume of 1800 cubic kilometres (431.8 cu mi) is comparable to that of Mount Erebus
.
Mount Siple is named after Paul A. Siple (1908–68), American Antarctic explorer and geographer who took part in six Antarctic expeditions, including the two Byrd expeditions of 1928-30 and 1933-35 (Siple Coast
, Siple Island). He was in command of the West Base of the US Antarctic Service (USAS), 1939–41, and was navigator on all major exploratory flights from the base, including the flight on which Mount Siple was discovered. He served as U.S. Army Senior Representative on Operation Highjump
, 1946–47; as Director of Scientific Projects in the planning stages for the US-IGY; and as the inaugural scientific leader at the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station 1956-57.
The mountain has probably been climbed, but there is no known record of the achievement. If it is in fact unclimbed, it is one of the most prominent
unclimbed mountains in the world (see highest unclimbed mountain
).
Mount Siple receives very little publicity due to its obscure location. In fact its topography has only been recorded by a sketch map. Surprisingly Mount Siple has received fewer visits than many of its other neighbouring remote volcanos.
Shield volcano
A shield volcano is a type of volcano usually built almost entirely of fluid lava flows. They are named for their large size and low profile, resembling a warrior's shield. This is caused by the highly fluid lava they erupt, which travels farther than lava erupted from more explosive volcanoes...
, rising to 3110 metres (10,203 ft) and dominating the northwest part of Siple Island
Siple Island
Siple Island is a long snow-covered island lying east of Wrigley Gulf along the Getz Ice Shelf off Bakutis Coast of Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica...
, which is separated from the Bakutis Coast
Bakutis Coast
The Bakutis Coast is that part of the coast of Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica, extending from a point opposite eastern Dean Island, at , to Cape Herlacher, or between Hobbs Coast in the west and Walgreen Coast in the east. It stretches between 127°35'W and 114°12'W. The coast in this area is...
, Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land
Marie Byrd Land is the portion of West Antarctica lying east of the Ross Ice Shelf and the Ross Sea and south of the Pacific Ocean, extending eastward approximately to a line between the head of the Ross Ice Shelf and Eights Coast. It stretches between 158°W and 103°24'W...
, by the Getz Ice Shelf
Getz Ice Shelf
Getz Ice Shelf is an Antarctic ice shelf, over 480 km long and from 32 to 96 km wide, bordering the Hobbs and Bakutis Coasts of Marie Byrd Land between McDonald Heights and Martin Peninsula. Several large islands are partially or wholly embedded in the ice shelf.The ice shelf westward of Siple...
. Its youthful appearance strongly suggests that it last erupted in Holocene
Holocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
. It is capped by a 4 kilometre summit caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
, and tuff cones lie on the lower flanks. Its massive volume of 1800 cubic kilometres (431.8 cu mi) is comparable to that of Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus
Mount Erebus in Antarctica is the southernmost historically active volcano on Earth, the second highest volcano in Antarctica , and the 6th highest ultra mountain on an island. With a summit elevation of , it is located on Ross Island, which is also home to three inactive volcanoes, notably Mount...
.
Mount Siple is named after Paul A. Siple (1908–68), American Antarctic explorer and geographer who took part in six Antarctic expeditions, including the two Byrd expeditions of 1928-30 and 1933-35 (Siple Coast
Siple Coast
Siple Coast is the middle portion of the relatively ill-defined coast along the east side of the Ross Ice Shelf, between the north end of Gould Coast and the south end of Shirase Coast . The area was originally called Kirton Coast, but was renamed by NZ-APC in 1961 after Paul A. Siple, a noted...
, Siple Island). He was in command of the West Base of the US Antarctic Service (USAS), 1939–41, and was navigator on all major exploratory flights from the base, including the flight on which Mount Siple was discovered. He served as U.S. Army Senior Representative on 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....
, 1946–47; as Director of Scientific Projects in the planning stages for the US-IGY; and as the inaugural scientific leader at the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station 1956-57.
The mountain has probably been climbed, but there is no known record of the achievement. If it is in fact unclimbed, it is one of the most prominent
Topographic prominence
In topography, prominence, also known as autonomous height, relative height, shoulder drop , or prime factor , categorizes the height of the mountain's or hill's summit by the elevation between it and the lowest contour line encircling it and no higher summit...
unclimbed mountains in the world (see highest unclimbed mountain
Highest unclimbed mountain
The highest unclimbed mountain in a particular region or in the world is often a matter of controversy. In some parts of the world surveying and mapping are still not reliable, and there are not comprehensive records of the routes of explorers, mountaineers and local inhabitants.However, a major...
).
Mount Siple receives very little publicity due to its obscure location. In fact its topography has only been recorded by a sketch map. Surprisingly Mount Siple has received fewer visits than many of its other neighbouring remote volcanos.
See also
- List of mountains in Antarctica
- List of Ultras in Antarctica
- List of islands by highest point