The South Magnetic Pole is constantly on the move, drifting away from the continent.

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Earth's magnetic south pole is not a fixed point on the map. It is a shifting location where magnetic field lines point vertically downward. Currently, this pole is migrating northwest at a rate of about 8 to 9 miles per year, having long ago moved from land to the open ocean.

The South Magnetic Pole, or dip pole, is defined as the location where Earth's magnetic field lines are oriented vertically, resulting in a magnetic inclination of -90 degrees. This phenomenon is distinct from the Geomagnetic South Pole, which is derived from a mathematical dipole model that best fits the planet's overall magnetic field. Unlike the geomagnetic poles, which are exactly 180 degrees opposite each other, the magnetic dip poles are not necessarily antipodal.

The pole's position is subject to secular variation, a continuous drift in Earth's magnetic field. Historical records show that the pole was once located on land, with the last land-based measurement recorded in 1962. Since then, it has moved offshore into the Southern Ocean. Early explorers, including Douglas Mawson, Alistair Mackay, and T.W. Edgeworth David, famously claimed to have reached the pole during the 1907-1909 Shackleton expedition, though subsequent analysis suggests their location was incorrect.

Understanding this polar wandering is a core component of geophysics. By studying the migration of these magnetic points, scientists have gathered significant evidence for continental drift. Paleomagnetism, which examines the ancient magnetic fields recorded in rocks, reveals that continents have shifted relative to one another over geologic time. Because the Earth's magnetic field is not a perfect dipole, these poles do not align with the geographic South Pole, which remains fixed at the southern end of the Earth's axis in Antarctica.

The movement of the pole is tracked through periodic magnetic surveys and global models. While the North Magnetic Pole experienced a notable acceleration in its drift during the mid-1990s, the South Magnetic Pole has maintained a more consistent pace of movement. Today, the pole lies well outside the Antarctic Circle, serving as a dynamic reminder of the complex, fluid nature of the planet's internal magnetic processes.

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