Rutford Ice Stream

Named by US-ACAN for geologist Robert Hoxie Rutford, a member of several USARP expeditions to Antarctica; leader of the University of Minnesota Ellsworth Mountains Party, 1963-1964.

Rutford served as Director of the Division of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 1975-1977.

[1] The ice stream is situated in a deep trough which is a tectonic feature between the Ellsworth Mountains and the Fletcher Promontory.

The bed of the ice stream reaches 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) below sea level.

[2] The speed of the Rutford ice stream varies by as much as 20% every two weeks, in response to variations in the tides.

Radarsat image of ice streams, including the Rutford, flowing into the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf
Map of Northern Sentinel Range and upper Rutford Ice Stream.
Map of Sentinel Range and Rutford Ice Stream.
Map of Heritage Range and lower Rutford Ice Stream.