Antarctic channel named after former BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos

The Amos Channel formed when ice between Rothschild and Alexander Islands disintegrated

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

Illustration: Antarctic channel named after former BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos

A stretch of water in western Antarctica has been named the Amos Channel after Jonathan Amos, the former BBC science correspondent, for what the naming committee called his "exceptional and influential role" in bringing Antarctic research to public understanding. The channel is a new feature between Rothschild Island and Alexander Island, formed when the ice that once connected them disintegrated.

The Amos Channel sits between Rothschild Island and Alexander Island in the west of the White Continent. According to the UK Antarctic Place Names Committee, Amos was given the honour for his "exceptional and influential role" during his 38-year career at BBC News. The channel is a new feature in Antarctica, created when a chunk of ice that connected the two islands disintegrated.

Amos, who reported on science at the BBC for many years, said: "It's absolutely incredible - what an extraordinary accolade. I'm so touched that there's a little bit of Antarctica named after me." Despite his long career covering the South Pole, he has not yet travelled to the continent. "I've written about it so often, but always from my desk - this is quite the incentive to go and visit." He added: "Antarctica is the front line of the biggest news story on planet Earth - climate change."

Athena Dinar, from the British Antarctic Survey, said Amos's passion for Antarctica and engaging journalism offers something for every reader, viewer or listener, with the naming a fitting recognition of his contribution to promoting Antarctic research. Fiona Fox, from the Science Media Centre, said Amos consistently highlighted the importance of Antarctic research, explaining not only what science is done there, but why it matters for society, climate understanding and the global environment.

Amos joined the BBC in 1986 as a local radio reporter in Cambridge. He was part of the team that launched the BBC News website in 1997 and ran the online science desk for many years, later working as a science correspondent across TV, radio and online before leaving the organisation in 2024. Among the stories he covered were colossal icebergs, the fate of penguin colonies and a BBC exclusive about the discovery of Ernest Shackleton's lost ship, the Endurance.

The naming of geographic features in Antarctica follows strict rules. The Amos Channel was recommended by the UK Antarctic Place Names Committee, which looks after names for sites within the British Antarctic Territory, as well as South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The honour puts science journalism itself on the map, recognising the role reporters play in bringing polar research to the public.
The channel is a newly formed geographic feature, a visible sign of how Antarctic ice is changing.
With ice loss creating new features, naming decisions will increasingly reflect the physical transformation of the continent.

Background

Antarctic place names are decided under strict rules, with the UK Antarctic Place Names Committee responsible for names within the British Antarctic Territory, as well as South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Amos Channel is a new feature that appeared when ice connecting two islands disintegrated, and its name recognises both the science of the region and the journalism that has communicated it to wider audiences.

What to Watch

Whether Amos acts on his own suggestion and travels to Antarctica after years of covering it from his desk.
How the newly exposed channel changes as ice in the region continues to disintegrate.
What other names are recommended by the UK Antarctic Place Names Committee as new geographic features emerge.

Sources

Part of Antarctica named after former BBC science correspondent · BBC News
Part of Antarctica named after former BBC science correspondent · BBC News

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

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SupportedA stretch of Antarctic water has been named the Amos Channel after former BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos.BBC News: “Part of Antarctica has been named after former BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos. A stretch of water between Rothschild Island and Alexander Island in the west of the White Continent is now called the Amos Channel.”
SupportedThe channel appeared when ice connecting Rothschild and Alexander islands disintegrated.BBC News: “The channel is a new feature in Antarctica that appeared when a chunk of ice that connected Rothschild and Alexander Islands disintegrated.”
SupportedThe naming committee described Amos's role as “exceptional and influential” in bringing Antarctic research to public understanding.BBC News: “Amos was given the honour for his “exceptional and influential role in bringing Antarctic research to the forefront of public understanding” during his 38-year career at BBC News, the naming committee said.”
SupportedThe honour recognised Amos's work during his 38-year BBC News career.BBC News: “Amos was given the honour for his “exceptional and influential role in bringing Antarctic research to the forefront of public understanding” during his 38-year career at BBC News, the naming committee said.”
SupportedAmos said, “It's absolutely incredible - what an extraordinary accolade. I'm so touched that there's a little bit of Antarctica named after me.”BBC News: ““It's absolutely incredible - what an extraordinary accolade. I'm so touched that there's a little bit of Antarctica named after me,” Amos said.”
Partly supportedAmos had a long career covering the South Pole.BBC News: “Despite his fascination with the South Pole, he has not yet travelled to the continent.”
SupportedAmos has not yet travelled to Antarctica.BBC News: “Despite his fascination with the South Pole, he has not yet travelled to the continent.”
SupportedAmos said he had written about Antarctica from his desk and that the naming was an incentive to visit.BBC News: ““I've written about it so often, but always from my desk - this is quite the incentive to go and visit.””
SupportedAmos called Antarctica “the front line of the biggest news story on planet Earth - climate change.”BBC News: ““Antarctica is the front line of the biggest news story on planet Earth - climate change,” he added.”
SupportedAthena Dinar said Amos's passion and engaging journalism offered something for every reader, viewer or listener, and that the naming recognised his contribution to promoting Antarctic research.BBC News: ““Jon's passion for Antarctica and engaging journalism offers something for every reader, viewer or listener. The naming of an Antarctic place in his honour is a fitting recognition of his outstanding contribution to the promotion of Antarctic research.””
SupportedFiona Fox said Amos consistently highlighted the importance of Antarctic research and explained why it matters for society, climate understanding and the global environment.BBC News: ““Jon consistently highlighted the importance of Antarctic research, explaining not only what science is being done there, but why it matters for society, climate understanding and the global environment,” said Fiona Fox, from the Science Media Centre.”