Gough Island 500 years after its discovery : a bibliography of scientific and popular literature 1505 to 2005 : special article

This article provides a comprehensive listing of information concerning Gough Island in the South Atlantic. It covers 500 years since the island's discovery in 1505, embracing works in the public domain. References are grouped by seven categories : scientific, popular, legal, miscellaneous, maps, visual material, and newspaper articles. An index is provided to facilitate searches by topic and author. An overview of the island, its status and relevance in terms of knowledge gained from research is also provided, together with a synthesis of information production and events that correlate with this over the half-millennium covered. South Africa's role in running a meteorological station on Gough for more than half a century is highlighted through contributions it has made on a global scale. These include commemorating the Weather Bureau's participation in the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 50 years ago and the support role that the operations of the Weather Service, in conjunction with the directorate Antarctica and Islands of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has provided, and continues to provide, to scientists and visitors from all over the globe. Supplementary material online at www.sajs.co.za additionally provides a pictorial essay that portrays Gough and events at the island. Included are rare historical and more recent images that give insight into the nature of the island and operations there - in particular, weather-related phenomena and the meteorological station, as well as spectacular views of Gough, whose fragile, harsh, yet beautiful setting have earned it World Heritage Site status.