Feature Name (see definition): Whillans Ice Stream

Feature Class (see definition): Stream

Country Code (see definition): AQ (Antarctica)

Feature ID (see definition): 17768

Primary Latitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds (see definition): 83° 40' 00" S

Primary Longitude in degrees, minutes, and seconds (see definition): 145° 00' 00" W

Primary Latitude in decimal degrees (see definition): -83.6666667

Primary Longitude in decimal degrees (see definition): -145

Elevation (see definition): No data

Decision Year (see definition): 01/01/2001

Description (see definition): An ice stream flowing W to Gould Coast between Mercer Ice Stream and Kamb Ice Stream. One of several major ice streams draining from Marie Byrd Land into the Ross Ice Shelf, it is identified as "Ice Stream B" in reports by the SPRI-NSF-TUD airborne radio echo sounding program (1967-79) and U.S. Antarctic Project (USAP) from 1984. The name was changed by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) in 2001 to honor Ian M. Whillans (1944-2001) glaciologist, Byrd Polar Research Center and Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio State University, whose work in Antarctica spanned the years from 1967 until his death. Whillans was a major figure in the study of West Antarctic ice streams, particularly this one, and he had a central role in recognizing from the earliest years that these ice streams hold the key to determining the stability of the West Antarctic ice sheet.

Date Created (see definition): 05/22/2000

Date Edited (see definition): No data