Consorzio P.N.R.A. S.C.r.l. COMPOSITE GAZETTEER OF ANTARCTICA

Recommendation SCAR XXIV - 5  (Cambridge, 1996)

Concerning Place Names

Noting that the SCAR Composite Gazetteer currently contains names data from sixteen SCAR member countries, comprising around 37,000 entries for 16,000 features (including over 1000 features with two or more entirely different names);

Noting further that the International Hydrographic Organisation has developed procedures for the naming of undersea features;

Considering that, in the interests of both scientific clarity and operational safety, the general principle of 'one name per feature' should apply on the Antarctic continent as in other parts of the world;

SCAR recommends that National Committees, via their governments, request the Antarctic Treaty to adopt principles for Antarctic place naming, including consideration of the following:

1. New names shall not be applied to features that have already been named by a national or international naming authority - in adopting existing names, countries are encouraged not to vary any part of such names.

2. All new names approved and documented by naming authorities should be regularly supplied to SCAR for publication in the SCAR Composite Gazetteer.

3. When selecting existing names for use on maps and in other publications, countries are encouraged to give preference to the earliest approved or documented name - without varying any part of such names.

4.That the Antarctic Treaty formally request SCAR to develop comprehensive 'Antarctic Toponymic Guidelines', in close cooperation with national and international naming authorities, based on the adopted principles.

Recommendation SCAR XXV-7 (Concepción 1998) and SCAR XXVI-2 (Tokyo 2000)

Concerning Antarctic Place names

Noting that the SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica (CGA):

•  has been published in March 1998 by the SCAR Working Group on Geodesy and Geographic Information (WG-GGI);
•  contains names data from twenty SCAR member countries and the International Hydrographic Organisation/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission;
•  comprises around 33,000 entries for 16,500 features, including around 500 features with two or more entirely different names;

SCAR recommends that National Committees, directly or through their national Antarctic authority:

1. refer to the CGA in considering all proposals for new place names;
2. avoid adding new place names to features already named;
3. submit all new approved place names to the WG-GGI for inclusion in the CGA.