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==Geology and volcanology== | ==Geology and volcanology== | ||
Mount Erebus is currently the most active volcano in [[Antarctica]] and is the current eruptive zone of the Erebus hotspot. The summit contains a persistent convecting phonolitic lava lake, one of five long-lasting lava lakes on Earth. Characteristic eruptive activity consists of Strombolian eruptions from the lava lake or from one of several subsidiary vents, all within the volcano's inner crater. The volcano is scientifically remarkable in that its relatively low-level and unusually persistent eruptive activity enables long-term volcanological study of a Strombolian eruptive system very close (hundreds of meters) to the active vents, a characteristic shared with only a few volcanoes on Earth, such as Stromboli in Italy. Scientific study of the volcano is also facilitated by its proximity to [[McMurdo Station]] (U.S.) and | Mount Erebus is currently the most active volcano in [[Antarctica]] and is the current eruptive zone of the Erebus hotspot. The summit contains a persistent convecting phonolitic lava lake, one of five long-lasting lava lakes on Earth. Characteristic eruptive activity consists of Strombolian eruptions from the lava lake or from one of several subsidiary vents, all within the volcano's inner crater. The volcano is scientifically remarkable in that its relatively low-level and unusually persistent eruptive activity enables long-term volcanological study of a Strombolian eruptive system very close (hundreds of meters) to the active vents, a characteristic shared with only a few volcanoes on Earth, such as Stromboli in Italy. Scientific study of the volcano is also facilitated by its proximity to [[McMurdo Station]] (U.S.) and Scott Base (New Zealand), both sited on [[Ross Island]] around 35 km away. | ||
Mount Erebus is classified as a polygenetic stratovolcano. The bottom half of the volcano is a shield and the top half is a stratocone. The composition of the current eruptive products of Erebus is anorthoclase-porphyritic tephritic phonolite and phonolite, which are the bulk of exposed lava flow on the volcano. The oldest eruptive products consist of relatively undifferentiated and nonviscous basanite lavas that form the low broad platform shield of Erebus. Slightly younger basanite and phonotephrite lavas crop out on Fang Ridge—an eroded remnant of an early Erebus volcano—and at other isolated locations on the flanks of Erebus. Erebus is the world's only presently erupting phonolite volcano. | Mount Erebus is classified as a polygenetic stratovolcano. The bottom half of the volcano is a shield and the top half is a stratocone. The composition of the current eruptive products of Erebus is anorthoclase-porphyritic tephritic phonolite and phonolite, which are the bulk of exposed lava flow on the volcano. The oldest eruptive products consist of relatively undifferentiated and nonviscous basanite lavas that form the low broad platform shield of Erebus. Slightly younger basanite and phonotephrite lavas crop out on Fang Ridge—an eroded remnant of an early Erebus volcano—and at other isolated locations on the flanks of Erebus. Erebus is the world's only presently erupting phonolite volcano. | ||
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===Discovery and naming=== | ===Discovery and naming=== | ||
[[File:RossIslandMap.jpg|thumb|Map of Ross Island showing Mount Erebus on the left]] | [[File:RossIslandMap.jpg|thumb|Map of Ross Island showing Mount Erebus on the left]] | ||
Mount Erebus was discovered on January 27, 1841 (and observed to be in eruption), by polar explorer Sir James Clark Ross, who named it and its companion, Mount Terror, after his ships, ''Erebus'' and ''Terror'' (which were later used by Sir John Franklin on his disastrous Arctic expedition). Erebus is a dark region in Hades in Greek mythology. Present with Ross on the Erebus was the young Joseph Hooker, future president of the Royal Society and close friend of Charles Darwin. Erebus was an Ancient Greek primordial deity of darkness, the son of Chaos. | Mount Erebus was discovered on January 27, 1841 (and observed to be in eruption), by polar explorer Sir [[James Clark Ross]], who named it and its companion, Mount Terror, after his ships, HMS ''Erebus'' and [[HMS Terror|HMS ''Terror'']] (which were later used by Sir John Franklin on his disastrous Arctic expedition). Erebus is a dark region in Hades in Greek mythology. Present with Ross on the Erebus was the young Joseph Hooker, future president of the Royal Society and close friend of Charles Darwin. Erebus was an Ancient Greek primordial deity of darkness, the son of Chaos. | ||
===Historic sites=== | ===Historic sites=== | ||
The mountain was surveyed in December 1912 by a science party from Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition, who also collected geological samples. Two of the camp sites they used have been recognised for their historic significance: | The mountain was surveyed in December 1912 by a science party from Scott’s [[Terra Nova Expedition]], who also collected geological samples. Two of the camp sites they used have been recognised for their historic significance: | ||
* Upper “Summit Camp” site (HSM 89) consists of part of a circle of rocks, which were probably used to weight the tent valances. | * Upper “Summit Camp” site (HSM 89) consists of part of a circle of rocks, which were probably used to weight the tent valances. | ||
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===Climbing=== | ===Climbing=== | ||
Mount Erebus' summit crater rim was first achieved by members of Sir [[Ernest Shackleton]]'s party; Professor Edgeworth David, Sir Douglas Mawson, Dr Alister Mackay, Jameson Adams, Dr Eric Marshall and Phillip Brocklehurst (who did not reach the summit), in 1908. Its first known solo ascent and the first winter ascent was accomplished by British mountaineer Roger Mear on 7 June 1985, a member of the "In the Footsteps of Scott" expedition. On January 19–20, 1991, Charles J. Blackmer, an iron-worker for many years at [[McMurdo Station]] and the [[South Pole]], accomplished a solo ascent in about 17 hours completely unassisted, by snow mobile and on foot. | Mount Erebus' summit crater rim was first achieved by members of Sir [[Ernest Shackleton]]'s party; Professor Edgeworth David, Sir [[Douglas Mawson]], Dr Alister Mackay, Jameson Adams, Dr Eric Marshall and Phillip Brocklehurst (who did not reach the summit), in 1908. Its first known solo ascent and the first winter ascent was accomplished by British mountaineer Roger Mear on 7 June 1985, a member of the "In the Footsteps of Scott" expedition. On January 19–20, 1991, Charles J. Blackmer, an iron-worker for many years at [[McMurdo Station]] and the [[South Pole]], accomplished a solo ascent in about 17 hours completely unassisted, by snow mobile and on foot. | ||
===Robotic exploration=== | ===Robotic exploration=== | ||