Fram Strait feature names
Most of the names of geologic and/or morphologic features in the Fram Strait can be found in many scientific publications dealing with the region. However, these feature names were not included in the Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN) feature name compilation of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) program. GEBCO is roofed by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the International Oceanographic Committee (IOC) of the UNESCO.
April 2003 we sent feature name proposals to SCUFN to include the following, common feature names in the SCUFN Gazetteer: Spitsbergen Fracture Zone, Spitsbergen Deep, Molloy Fracture Zone, Molloy Deep, Molloy Ridge, Greenland-Spitsbergen Sill and Hovgaard Ridge. Moreover three new names were proposed for the characteristic seamounts of the Molloy Ridge: Gjalp Seamount, Atla Seamount and Eistla Seamount.
These names have been accepted by SCUFN except the following minor modifications, which were due to the fact that SCUFN takes care of giving exact nomenclature. Hence, two names were changed in order to meet the regulations defined in the SCUFN guidelines for the standardization of undersea feature names: Spitsbergen Deep turned into Spitsbergen Trough and Molloy Deep turned into Molloy Hole.
Perspective view oft the study area with the "new" SCUFN feature names. View direction is from north to south, vertical exaggeration is three times.
Why Atla, Eistla and Gjalp ?
In the ancient nordic mythology Atla, Eistla and Gjalp are ocean giantesses taking the shape of ocean waves. They are three of nine daughters of Ran and Ägir.
Ran is an ocean giantess as well and mother of all ocean waves. She reigns the realm of those died by drowning. Her husband, Ägir is the giant of the calm seas, king of all ocean giants and a rich and usually kind guy.
The Molloy Ridge is in direct neighborhood of the Molloy Hole, i.e. the deepest known spot in the nordic seas and probably Ran's realm of the dead. Therefor, it is likely that Ran and her daughters reside around the peaks of Molloy Ridge.