Cox Glacier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cox Glacier |
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Satellite image of Thurston Island
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 Location in Antarctica
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| Location | Ellsworth Land |
| Coordinates | 72°12′S 101°2′W / 72.200°S 101.033°W |
| Thickness | unknown |
| Terminus | Abbot Ice Shelf |
| Status | unknown |
Cox Glacier (72°12′S 101°2′W / 72.200°S 101.033°W) is a small glacier located in Antarctica. A glacier is like a very slow-moving river made of ice. This glacier is found on Thurston Island and flows south into the Abbot Ice Shelf. It's an important part of the icy landscape in this remote polar region.
What is Cox Glacier?
Cox Glacier is a relatively small ice stream. It sits just east of another glacier called Rochray Glacier. Both are on Thurston Island, which is a large, ice-covered island off the coast of Ellsworth Land in West Antarctica. The glacier's ice slowly moves towards the south, eventually reaching the Abbot Ice Shelf in Peacock Sound. An ice shelf is a thick, floating platform of ice that forms where a glacier flows off the land into the ocean.
How Was It Discovered?
Scientists first mapped Cox Glacier using special air photos. These pictures were taken from airplanes by the United States Navy Squadron VX-6 in January 1960. These flights helped explorers understand the shape and features of this part of Antarctica.
Who Was It Named After?
The glacier was named by the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names. They decided to name it after Lieutenant Jerry G. Cox. He was a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Navy. In February 1960, Lieutenant Cox made important flights to explore Thurston Island. These flights helped gather more information about the area, which was still largely unknown at the time.
Nearby Features
Between Cox Glacier and Rochray Glacier, there is a landform called Jordan Nunatak. A nunatak is a mountain peak or rock outcrop that sticks out above the ice or snow of a glacier. It's like an island in a sea of ice.
