Mapping

Issue Date: 5 January 2007







British Antarctic Survey has been mapping remote areas for many decades. Increasing temperatures have resulted in major changes to the extent of South Georgia's glaciers over the past 50 years and the improvements in global positioning show that the original detailed surveys of the 1950s had not positioned the island very precisely on the surface of the Earth.

Tourism and research on the island are increasing every year and the 1958 map was unsuitable for continuing use. The Government of South Georgia commissioned a new map from BAS based on revised positional data, with satellite pictures and digital topography. This l:200,000 map was prepared by the Mapping and Geographic Information Centre (MAGIC) at British Antarctic Survey.

The 1958 map was the first detailed one of the island and South Georgia issued a magnificent set of stamps in 2005 celebrating the life of the late Duncan Carse, leader of the surveying expeditions. The contrast between the Carse Map and the new Satellite map shown on these stamps illustrates the way the way mapping techniques have changed over time. The Carse map is based on field surveying involving many weeks of overland travel and exacting theodolite measurements and was an outstanding achievement for its time. The 1958 map was in use during the 1982 Falkland Islands conflict. In contrast the new map is entirely based on satellite-derived information; the Landsat 7 mosaic for coastline, ice/rock/moraine classification etc and Space Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data for elevation.

The theodolite shown on the stamp design is a Kern DKM1 that was used for the 1951-52 survey expedition and equipment used during the 1955-56 survey was, according to the survey report ' much the same as in 1951-2 and 1953-4'.

Acknowledgement: The Mapping and Geographic Information Centre (MAGIC), British Antarctic Survey - for their invaluable assistance and provision of reference material.

Technical details:

Release Date: 5 January 2007
Designer: Ross Watton
Printer: BDT International Security Printing Ltd
Process: Lithography
Stamp Size: 30.56 x 38mm
Sheet Format: 20 (2 x 10) Line work map of SG in sheet gutter
Watermark: CA Spiral
Perforation: 14 per 2cms

Values & Designs:

Se-tenant pairs;
          2 x 50p - Map of Neumayer Glacier 1958 and Map of Neumayer Glacier 2003
          2 x 60p - Kern DKM1 with 1958 map in background and Landsat 7 Satellite and curvature of earth
First Day Cover;
          Map of South Georgia



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