Seymour Laxon and Katharine Gilles

Celebrating 200 years since the discovery of the Antarctic continent, the UK Committee for Antarctic Place-Names has named 28 mountains, glaciesr and bays after modern-day scientists who have advanced our understanding of this remote continent – two of which are Seymour Laxon and Katherine Gilles.

Named in honour of Seymour Laxon, Laxon Bay lies in the northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula. Prof. Laxon was the Director at the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling at University College London. His research pioneered the use of satellite altimetry to measure the gravity field, sea-ice thickness and surface circulation in the polar oceans. His work provided evidence that enabled the development of the CryoSat mission. Named after Katharine Giles, Giles Bay also lies in the northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula. Dr Gilles’ research focussed on sea ice, ocean circulation and wind patterns, and the use of satellite altimetry to measure the thickness of Arctic and Antarctic sea ice.

Sadly, Prof. Laxon and Dr Gilles died within months of each other in 2013 as a result of two separate tragic accidents in the UK.

Read full story: Places in Antarctica named in honour of ice scientists