South magnetic pole
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The south magnetic pole, also known as the magnetic south pole, is the point on Earth's Southern Hemisphere where the geomagnetic field lines are directed perpendicular to the nominal surface. The Geomagnetic South Pole, a related point, is the south pole of an ideal dipole model of the Earth's magnetic field that most closely fits the Earth's actual magnetic field.
For historical reasons, the "end" of a freely hanging magnet that points (roughly) north is itself called the "north pole" of the magnet, and the other end, pointing south, is called the magnet's "south pole". Because opposite poles attract, Earth's south magnetic pole is physically actually a magnetic north pole (see also North magnetic pole § Polarity).
The south magnetic pole is constantly shifting due to changes in Earth's magnetic field. As of 2005 it was calculated to lie at 64°31′48″S 137°51′36″E / 64.53000°S 137.86000°E,[2] placing it off the coast of Antarctica, between Adélie Land and Wilkes Land. In 2015 it lay at 64°17′S 136°35′E / 64.28°S 136.59°E (est).[3] That point lies outside the Antarctic Circle. Due to polar drift, the pole is moving northwest by about 10 to 15 kilometres (6 to 9 mi) per year. Its current distance from the actual Geographic South Pole is approximately 2,860 km (1,780 mi).[1] The nearest permanent science station is Dumont d'Urville Station. While the north magnetic pole began wandering very quickly in the mid 1990s, the movement of the south magnetic pole did not show a matching change of speed.
Year | 1990 (definitive) | 2000 (definitive) | 2010 (definitive) | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
North magnetic pole | 78°05′42″N 103°41′20″W / 78.095°N 103.689°W | 80°58′19″N 109°38′24″W / 80.972°N 109.640°W | 85°01′12″N 132°50′02″W / 85.020°N 132.834°W | 86°29′38″N 162°52′01″E / 86.494°N 162.867°E |
South magnetic pole | 64°54′36″S 138°54′07″E / 64.910°S 138.902°E | 64°39′40″S 138°18′11″E / 64.661°S 138.303°E | 64°25′55″S 137°19′30″E / 64.432°S 137.325°E | 64°04′52″S 135°51′58″E / 64.081°S 135.866°E |
Expeditions
Early unsuccessful attempts to reach the magnetic south pole included those of French explorer
The first calculation of the magnetic inclination to locate the magnetic South Pole was made on 23 January 1838 by the hydrographer
On 16 January 1909 three men (
Fits to global data sets
The south magnetic pole has also been estimated by fits to global sets of data such as the
South geomagnetic pole
Earth's geomagnetic field can be approximated by a tilted dipole (like a bar magnet) placed at the center of Earth. The south geomagnetic pole is the point where the axis of this best-fitting tilted dipole intersects Earth's surface in the southern hemisphere. As of 2005 it was calculated to be located at 79°44′S 108°13′E / 79.74°S 108.22°E,[10] near the Vostok Station. Because the field is not an exact dipole, the south geomagnetic pole does not coincide with the south magnetic pole. Furthermore, the south geomagnetic pole is wandering for the same reason its northern geomagnetic counterpart wanders.
See also
- North Magnetic Pole
- Polar alignment
References
- ^ a b c d NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. "Wandering of the Geomagnetic Poles". Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- NGDC. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ British Geological Survey – Magnetic Poles
- ISBN 9780309036405.
- ^ "FAQs from primary schools – British Antarctic Survey". Antarctica.ac.uk. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ISBN 978-0949819642.
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ^ Shackleton, Roland Huntford
- S2CID 40510741.
- ^ "Geomagnetism Frequently Asked Questions". Ngdc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- Barton, Charles (2002). "Survey tracks current position of South Magnetic Pole". .