Grindley Plateau (84°9′S 166°5′E / 84.150°S 166.083°E / -84.150; 166.083 (Grindley Plateau)) is a high icecapped plateau in the central Queen Alexandra Range of Antarctica, bordered by the peaks of Mount Mackellar, Mount Bell and Mount Kirkpatrick.[1]

Grindley Plateau
Highest point
Coordinates84°9′S 166°5′E / 84.150°S 166.083°E / -84.150; 166.083 (Grindley Plateau)
Geography
LocationAntarctica
Parent rangeQueen Alexandra Range

Name edit

Grindley Plateau was named by the Northern Party of the New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition (NZGSAE; 1961–62) for George Grindley, senior geologist of the party.[1]

Location edit

 
Grindley Plateau in northwest of map

Grindley Plateau is in the central Queen Alexandra Range, north of Mount Kirkpatrick. The Garrard Glacier forms to its south and flows east into the Beardmore Glacier. The Wyckoff Glacier forms to its southeast and flows west to Lennox-King Glacier. The Wahl Glacier forms to its west and flows northwest to Lennox-King Glacier. Features surrounding the plateau include Mallory Bluff, Mount Mackellar, Mount Bell, Mount Kurlak, Mount Lockwood, Mount Stanley and Levi Peak.[2]

Features edit

Mallory Bluff edit

84°02′S 165°50′E / 84.033°S 165.833°E / -84.033; 165.833. A prominent bluff on the northwest slope of Grindley Plateau, just northeast of the head of Wahl Glacier. Named by the United States Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Roger P. Mallory, Jr., USARP meteorologist at South Pole Station, 1962, and at Wilkes Station, 1963.[3]

Mount Bell edit

84°04′S 167°30′E / 84.067°S 167.500°E / -84.067; 167.500. A bluff-type mountain, 4,305 metres (14,124 ft) high, forming a part of the northeast edge of Grindley Plateau, 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) southeast of Mount Mackellar. Named by the British Antarctic Expedition, 1907–09 (BrAE) for William Bell, a relative of Ernest Shackleton and supporter of the expedition.[4]

Mount Kurlak edit

84°05′S 168°00′E / 84.083°S 168.000°E / -84.083; 168.000. An ice-covered mountain 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) southeast of Mount Bell. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant Commander William B. Kurlak, United States Navy, aircraft commander during United States Navy OpDFrz, 1964.[5]

Mount Lockwood edit

84°09′S 167°24′E / 84.150°S 167.400°E / -84.150; 167.400. A projecting-type mountain 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) south of Mount Bell, forming a part of the east face of Grindley Plateau. The above is the interpretation of Shackleton's intended position for this mountain made by the Southern Party of NZGSAE (1961-62), which explored this region. Named by BrAE (1907–09) for Doctor C.B. Lockwood of St. Bartholomew Hospital, where Doctor E.S. Marshall of BrAE had previously been employed.[6]

Mount Stanley edit

84°09′S 165°29′E / 84.150°S 165.483°E / -84.150; 165.483. A peak, 3,220 metres (10,560 ft) high, standing northeast of the head of Wyckoff Glacier near the western limits of Grindley Plateau. Named by the BrAE (1907–09) for the eldest brother of Doctor E.S. Marshall, a member of the expedition. This identification is the NZGSAE (1961-62) interpretation of the original positioning by the BrAE (1907-09).[7]

Levi Peak edit

84°08′S 165°06′E / 84.133°S 165.100°E / -84.133; 165.100. A rock peak 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) northwest of Mount Stanley, at the western edge of Grindley Plateau. Named by US-ACAN for Gene S. Levi, meteorologist at Hallett Station, winter 1963, and 1964-65 summer season.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Alberts 1995, p. 297.
  2. ^ The Cloudmaker USGS.
  3. ^ Alberts 1995, p. 457.
  4. ^ Alberts 1995, p. 57.
  5. ^ Alberts 1995, p. 407.
  6. ^ Alberts 1995, p. 440.
  7. ^ Alberts 1995, p. 707.
  8. ^ Alberts 1995, p. 430.

Sources edit

  • Alberts, Fred G., ed. (1995), Geographic Names of the Antarctic (PDF) (2 ed.), United States Board on Geographic Names, retrieved 2023-12-03   This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Board on Geographic Names.
  • The Cloudmaker, USGS: United States Geological Survey, retrieved 2024-03-16