The Earth's South Magnetic Pole is the wandering point on the Earth's surface where the geomagnetic field lines are directed vertically upwards. It should not be confused with the lesser known South Geomagnetic Pole described later. Adjectives: Terrestrial, Terran, Telluric, Tellurian, Earthly Atmosphere Surface pressure: 101. ... The magnetosphere shields the surface of the Earth from the charged particles of the solar wind. ...

For historical reasons, the "end" of a magnet that points (roughly) north is itself called the "north pole" of the magnet, and the other end, pointing south, is called magnet's "south pole". Because it is unlike poles that attract, the Earth's South Magnetic Pole is physically actually a magnetic north pole.

The South Magnetic Pole is constantly shifting due to changes in the Earth's magnetic field. As of 2005 it was calculated to lie at 64°32′S 137°52′E / -64.53, 137.86 [1], just off the coast of Wilkes Land, Antarctica. It is moving north west by about 10 to 15 kilometers per year (see also Polar drift). Map of Antarctica, with Wilkes Land slightly to the right Wilkes Land is a large district of land in eastern Antarctica, formally claimed by Australia as part of the Australian Antarctic Territory, though this claim is not legally recognised by the signatories of the Antarctic Treaty, which includes Australia itself. ... A kilometer (Commonwealth spelling: kilometre), symbol: km is a unit of length in the metric system equal to 1,000 metres (from the Greek words χίλια (khilia) = thousand and μέτρο (metro) = count/measure). ... Polar drift is a geological phenomenon caused by variations in the flow of molten iron (magma) in Earths outer core, resulting in changes in the orientation of Earths magnetic field, and hence the position of the magnetic north pole. ...

Expeditions

On January 16, 1909 three men (Douglas Mawson, Edgeworth David, and Alistair Mackay) from Sir Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition claimed to have found the South Magnetic Pole [2], which was at that time located on land. However, there is now some doubt as to whether their location was correct [3]. January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1914 portrait Sir Douglas Mawson OBE FRS (May 5, 1882 – 14 October 1958) was an Australian Antarctic explorer and geologist. ... Sir Tannant William Edgeworth David (January 28, 1858 - August 28, 1934 was an Australian geologist and explorer. ... Alistair Mackay was a Scottish doctor and polar explorer. ... Ernest Henry Shackleton The Discovery During the Discovery expedition, Shackleton made the first balloon flight over Antarctica Four men from Nimrod (left to right): Frank Wild, Shackleton, Eric Marshall, and Jameson Adams Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (February 15, 1874 – January 5, 1922) was an Irish-born explorer, now chiefly... darn ...

South Geomagnetic Pole

The Earth's geomagnetic field can be approximated by a tilted dipole (like a bar magnet) placed at the center of the Earth. The South Geomagnetic Pole is the point where the axis of this best-fitting tilted dipole intersects the 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, 108.22 [4], near to 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 magnetic counterpart wanders. Ice cores drilled at Vostok, with a portion of the station behind Vostok Station (Russian: ) is a Russian (formerly Soviet) research station located near the South Geomagnetic Pole, at the center of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. ...

References

1. ^ Geomagnetism, North Magnetic Pole. Natural Resources Canada, 2005-03-13.
2. ^ South Magnetic Pole. Commonwealth of Australia, Australian Antarctic Division, 2002.

See also

• Magnetic North Pole

This is about the geographic meaning of North Pole. ...

External links

• one site
• Australian site