Story: Magnetic field

Changing position of the magnetic south pole

Changing position of the magnetic south pole

The positions of magnetic north and south change as time passes, and scientists regularly record them. When the magnetic south pole was first located in 1909 it lay on the Antarctic continent, but it has been travelling 10–15 kilometres each year and by 2000 lay in the Southern Ocean.

Base map: NASA Visible Earth

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How to cite this page:

Tony Hurst, 'Magnetic field - The magnetic field and its direction', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/map/9214/changing-position-of-the-magnetic-south-pole (accessed 17 April 2024)

Story by Tony Hurst, published 12 Jun 2006