Talk:Zavodovski Island/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Esculenta (talk · contribs) 03:57, 22 October 2023 (UTC)

I will review this article; should have comments up in a day or two. Esculenta (talk) 03:57, 22 October 2023 (UTC)

Lead

• the lead seems to be too short at the moment. Some things I would expect to see:

• mention of location in South Atlantic Ocean, and as the northernmost of the SS Islands
• a note on its discovery by a Russian expedition and its naming after Lieutenant Ivan Zavodovski
• brief description of the island's environment (cold, snowy, windy?)

• Seems like there is not much sourcing to hang such a description on. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• the fact that Zavodovski Island is part of the British overseas territory (or is it? other than the infobox that mentions UK administration, there doesn't seem to be any discussion about this in the article)

Geography and geomorphology

• the article on the South Sandwich Islands says that they are a part of the "South Atlantic Ocean", which contradicts the statement here that Zavodovski Island is part of the Southern Ocean (i.e. Antarctic Ocean). Which is correct?

  The former; I've corrected. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• The distance that is written "13,000 kilometres (7,000 nmi)" seems like an overestimate, as New Zealand is not this far from the South Sandwich Islands (Google search gives me 8,997 km to Zavodovski, or 4858 nmi)
• "Zavodovski is the northernmost of the South Sandwich Islands, which lie in the Southern Ocean southeast of South Georgia[2] and extend over a distance of 350 kilometres (220 mi) in north-south direction." —> "...which lie southeast of South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean and span a distance of 350 kilometres (220 mi) from north to south." rephrase for clarity?
• "A 70–160 metres (230–520 ft) deep" —> "A submarine shelf, 70–160 metres (230–520 ft) in depth..." If you don't like the reword, you'll need to add the parameter adj=on to the convert template. Same with these: "are made up by 15–30 metres (49–98 ft) high cliffs"; "lies the 551 metres (1,808 ft)[9][1] or 557 metres (1,827 ft) high Mount Curry"; "left a 4 cubic kilometres (0.96 cu mi) deposit"

  Went for a different formulation. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• "the western of a pair" -> "the western one of a pair" ?
• "where marine erosion has cut into the island" might be clearer as "where marine erosion has eroded away parts of the island".
• is there a reason for preferring the name Mount Curry over Mount Asphyxia (which is the title of our article on the topic)?

  In Google Scholar at least the former name is more common. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• parasitic vent or parasitic cone?

  They are the same thing, essentially. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• "about 0.1 square kilometres (0.039 sq mi)" too much implied accuracy in output, especially since input value is labeled "about"
• "lava flows surround most of Mount Curry." forgive my ignorance, but I associate the term "lava flows" with the hot, not yet solidified stuff from volcanoes; is it still the correct term to use after it's become solid rock?

  Aye. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• "sector collape" fix typo
• shouldn't start a sentence with a number

  I presume this referred to the Protector Shoal sentence? Corrected. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• suggested links: embayment, headland, boulder beach, columnar joint, submarine shelf, submarine ridge, chute, bathymetry

  Done, but a blockfield is something completely different from a boulder beach. Bathymetry is a little misleading, as we are talking about the submarine appearance not the measurement technique. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

Geology

• It might be clearer to say "The South America Plate subducts beneath the Scotia Plate to the east of the South Sandwich Islands..." to ensure there's no confusion about the location relative to the plates.

  That sounds like "to the east" refers to the Scotia Plate; I think it's misleading. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• It might be clearer to state "Basalt is the dominant rock type produced by volcanic activity..." to specify what you're referring to.
• "resemble these of" -> those of

Flora and fauna

• "and algae in proximity to penguin colonies." this wording makes it sounds like algae are only to be found near penguin colonies (which of course is not true; they're probably nearly everywhere on this island)

  Actually, the algae have been reported only from penguin colonies; they don't grow so well on bare rock. So it's deliberate. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

  How about mentioning the predominant green alga species, Prasiola crispa? They're mentioned by Holdgate & Baker ("the green slopes of Prasiola"), and seem to be common throughout the SS islands. Esculenta (talk) 20:40, 29 October 2023 (UTC)

• what about the lichens? Surely there must be lichens on this island? I'd be very surprised if there weren't any documented near the nitrogen-rich environments of the bird colonies

  Probably, but until it has been reported we can't say it. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• "It consists of bryophytes." any examples?

  Eh, I don't think spelling out which species is necessary here. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• "Arthropods include mites." anything else?

  Nothing that's been reported so far. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• link: bird colony
• "Numerous penguins were present[37] in a 2020 survey.[44]" this sentence seems highly uninformative, considering the 10s/100s of thousands of penguins previously discussed.
• endashes for number ranges

Geologic history

• "although radiometric dating of its rocks has not taken place" as of 1990, I suppose. Anything more recent? Also, "although radiometric dating of its rocks has not taken place." -> "though its rocks have not been radiometrically dated." better?

  None of the recent sources mentions radiometric dating. Changed the other. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• In the sentence, "Alternating sequences of lava flows and tephra built the island up during the last few ten thousands of years..." the phrasing "last few ten thousands" is atypical. Instead, "last few tens of thousands" would be more conventional.
• The phrase "ash and lava bombs fallout" might be clearer as "fallout of ash and lava bombs."
• "pars of the island" -> parts

Research history and naming

• "Other names of the island are Zawadowski Ssawadowski" missing comma?
• any more details about the scientific expeditions of 1930 and 1962? Were they botanical or geological in nature, and what country financed them?

  I think they were comprehensive and financed by the UK, but don't have a source at the moment. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• The term "Soviet landing" in the context of Argentina laying claim to the islands might benefit from a brief elaboration or clarification. As it stands, the connection between the Soviet landing and Argentina's claim is not clearly established.

  Done, but the sauce isn't really that detailed. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

• please include the interesting placenames in the smell subsection; I don't think the note is necessary, it just make the interested reader have to scan down into the sources to extract these names
• this article refers to Zavodovski as the "world’s smelliest island"; might be worthwhile to see if other sources make a similar claim, and add a bit to the smell section?
• "C.A. Larsen" ->include first name on first usage

• External link -> links, but those look more like "Further reading" to me

Actioned and if not responded to comments. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk) 07:56, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

Ok, I've checked a few sources and am satisfied that GA criterion #2 is met, as are the other criteria. The single image is public domain. Consider adding the green algae mentioned above. Now promoting to GA. Esculenta (talk) 20:40, 29 October 2023 (UTC)