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The South Magnetic Pole is where Earth's magnetic field lines converge, pointing downward in the Southern Hemisphere. Unlike the fixed Geomagnetic South Pole, the actual magnetic pole moves, driven by Earth's outer core dynamics. Historical expeditions, like Shackleton's, and modern models like the WMM and IGRF, help track its elusive position. The pole's migration is monitored by nearby research stations, contributing to our understanding of Earth's magnetic field.
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The South Magnetic Pole is a specific location on Earth where the planet's magnetic field lines converge and point downward
Definition of Geomagnetic South Pole
The Geomagnetic South Pole is the theoretical point where the axis of a dipole model of Earth's magnetic field intersects the Earth's surface in the southern hemisphere
Differences between South Magnetic Pole and Geomagnetic South Pole
While the South Magnetic Pole is a specific location on Earth's surface, the Geomagnetic South Pole is a theoretical point that represents the southern end of the axis of a dipole model of Earth's magnetic field
The South Magnetic Pole is named as such because it is magnetically a north pole, attracting the north pole of a compass needle
The Earth's magnetic poles are constantly moving due to the dynamo action of molten iron in the planet's outer core
The South Magnetic Pole has been migrating over time and is currently located in the Southern Ocean, off the coast of Antarctica
The South Magnetic Pole drifts at an average rate of 10 to 15 kilometers per year
Early explorers such as Dumont d'Urville and James Clark Ross paved the way for future expeditions to the South Magnetic Pole
French geographer Clément Adrien Vincendon-Dumoulin made the first successful calculation of the South Magnetic Pole's position in 1838
A party from Sir Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition, led by Douglas Mawson, Edgeworth David, and Alistair Mackay, reported reaching the South Magnetic Pole in 1909
Sophisticated models such as the World Magnetic Model and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field are used to determine the current location of the South Magnetic Pole
These models integrate data from satellite observations, magnetic surveys, and historical records to estimate the pole's position
The GUFM1 model is used to reconstruct the South Magnetic Pole's past locations using historical ship logs and other archival records
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Location of South Magnetic Pole
A point in the Southern Hemisphere where Earth's magnetic field lines converge and point downward.
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Magnetic polarity of South Magnetic Pole
Magnetic north pole; it attracts the north pole of a compass needle.
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Reason for South Magnetic Pole's naming convention
Named for its location in the geographic southern hemisphere, despite being the magnetic north pole.
