South Magnetic Pole facts for kids
The South Magnetic Pole is the point on the southern hemisphere where the magnetic lines are directly pointing upward. In other words, if there were a magnet inside the earth axis (from north to south), the South Magnetic pole would be at its southern end. Because the magnetic field of the Earth changes, the exact location of ths pole does as well.64°31′48″S 137°51′36″E / 64.53000°S 137.86000°E, placing it off the coast of Antarctica, between Adelie Land and Wilkes Land. In 2015 it lies at 64°17′S 136°35′E / 64.28°S 136.59°E (est). That point lies outside the Antarctic Circle. Due to polar drift, the pole is moving northwest by about 10 to 15 kilometers per year. Its current distance from the actual Geographic South Pole is approximately 2860 km. The nearest permanent science station is Dumont d'Urville Station. Wilkes Land contains a large gravitational mass concentration.
Images for kids
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Observed south dip poles during 1903–2000 are yellow squares. IGRF-12 Modeled pole locations from 1590 to 2020 are circles progressing from blue to yellow.
See also
In Spanish: Polo sur magnético para niños
