Tributes have been paid to a leading Scottish scientist who died in a field accident while working in Antarctica.

Dr Gordon Hamilton, 50, was conducting research on White Island, in the Ross Archipelago, on Saturday when the snowmobile he was riding hit a crevasse and plunged 100ft.

His body has been recovered and an accident investigation has been launched by the US Antarctic Programme (USAP).

The US-based physical glaciologist was a professor at the University of Maine's School of Earth and Climate Sciences, and a researcher with the Climate Change Institute.

The scientist, reportedly born in Dundee, is survived by his wife Fiona, and their two children, Martin and Calum.

In a statement published on the BBC Scotland website, his family was said to be devastated by the death and "immensely proud of all that he achieved in his life".

Their statement said: "Although Gordon had worked abroad in Norway and the USA for more than 20 years, he maintained a love of Scotland, always eager to find out the Dundee FC score or to hear how the Scotland rugby team was getting on."

He was also said to have visited Scotland this summer to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Also paying tribute, university president Susan Hunter said: "The University of Maine has lost one of its leading scientists.

"Gordon's glaciology research around the world - from Antarctica to Greenland - was second to none.

"He leaves a legacy as an outstanding scientist, and a caring mentor and well-known teacher to undergraduate and graduate students."

Dr Hamilton, who had previously worked at the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Centre at Ohio State University and the Norwegian Polar Institute in Oslo, studied the behaviour of modern ice sheets and their role in the climate system.

Climate Change Institute director Paul Mayewski said Dr Hamilton was highly regarded by his peers.

"His experience and devotion to understanding glacier dynamics and their role in our evolving climate system, notably with respect to sea level rise, were Gordon's scientific passions," he said.

"Those of us who shared time in the field with Gordon know how important he was not only as a fellow team member and scientist, but also how wonderful and how much fun it was to be with him."

Dr Hamilton was with the USAP, managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), at the time of the accident.

NSF director Dr France Cordova said: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Dr Hamilton. Our thoughts are with the family and entire community as we mourn this loss."