Staircase Glacier
Encyclopedia
Staircase Glacier is a glacier
about 8 nautical miles (15 km) long, descending southwest between Mount Francis
and Mount Titus
into Tucker Glacier
, in the Admiralty Mountains
. So named by the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition
(NZGSAE), 1957–58, for its proximity to the "Staircase" survey station, the latter so designated because a long line of steps were cut in the ice in climbing to it.
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...
about 8 nautical miles (15 km) long, descending southwest between Mount Francis
Mount Francis
Mount Francis is a massive, ridgelike mountain that overlooks Tucker Glacier from the north, standing between Tyler and Staircase Glaciers in the Admiralty Mountains. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1960-62. Named by Advisory Committee on...
and Mount Titus
Mount Titus
Mount Titus is a mountain, 2,840 m, surmounting the heights between the Staircase and Kelly Glaciers in the Admiralty Mountains, Victoria Land. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1960-62. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for Robert W....
into Tucker Glacier
Tucker Glacier
Tucker Glacier is a major valley glacier of Victoria Land, about 144 km long, flowing southeast between Admiralty Mountains and Victory Mountains to the Ross Sea...
, in the Admiralty Mountains
Admiralty Mountains
The Admiralty Mountains is a large group of high mountains and individually-named ranges and ridges in northeastern Victoria Land of Antarctica...
. So named by the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition
New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition
The New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition describes a series of scientific explorations of the continent Antarctica. The expeditions were notably active in 1957-58 and again in 1958-59. The 1957-58 expedition went to the Ross Dependency and named the Borchgrevink Glacier...
(NZGSAE), 1957–58, for its proximity to the "Staircase" survey station, the latter so designated because a long line of steps were cut in the ice in climbing to it.