The Floor of the Arctic Ocean: Geographic Names

Abstract

A table listing 54 major features of the ocean floor in the Arctic, gives the final suggested name, approx location, and the status of the name with the US Board on Geographic Names and the Intl. Hydrographic Bureau. Recommendations are based on decisions made at a meeting called by the US Navy Electronics Laboratory, San Diego, Calif, Jan 1966. The criteria for decisions were: consistency with Undersea terms and definitions (US Board on Geographic Names, 1964) and Limits of oceans and seas (Intl Hydrographic Bureau 1953), common usage, priority of discovery or naming, association with established geographic features, and minimizing ambiguity. It is suggested that a straight line across the narrowest constriction of Bering Strait should mark the southern boundary of Chukchi Sea, rather than the Arctic Circle, as recommended by the I.H.B., and that, in the absence of any hydrographic or physiographic features designating a unique region, the name Beaufort Sea should be dropped. The opinions ar those of the writers personally.