The release of the Bedmap 3 map reveals Antarctica’s subglacial terrain in much more detail that seen previously, and many associated names reflect the history of scientific exploration in the region. These include a variety of features such as subglacial lakes, basins, mountain ranges, trenches and ridges.
For example, the “Astrolabe Subglacial Basin” is named after the French ship Astrolabe, highlighting France’s contributions to Antarctic research. The “Resolution Subglacial Highlands” pay tribute to Captain James Cook’s HMS Resolution, flagship of the British expedition, 1772-75. Meanwhile, the “Webb Subglacial Trench” honours Australian glaciologist Peter-Norman Webb, magnetician with the Australian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-14. More recently, the “Polargap Subglacial Highlands” commemorate the 2015/16 European Space Agency’s PolarGAP survey, which filled critical gaps in knowledge of the bed topography of Antarctica.
The SCAR Composite Gazetteer is a compilation of place names used across the Continent, submitted by various national naming authorities. If you would like to learn more about place names in Antarctica, please see the SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica (CGA).
