Of Earth and Poles
- A Crazy Little Bird Told Me
- Jul 16, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 25, 2023
Did you know that Earth has 7 poles?
You read right, there are 4 South Poles and 3 North Poles: 2 geographic poles, 2 magnetic poles, 2 geomagnetic poles and 1 ceremonial South Pole. I have no idea why there isn’t a ceremonial North Pole, just that I couldn’t find any reference to it.
Food for thought as we dig into that topic: the earth isn’t spherical. No, it isn’t flat either, people (!), it just isn’t perfectly and symmetrically round.
A disclaimer before you go any further. This article was supposed to be a short and sweet piece, but as I kept finding more interesting facts, it turned into a much bigger article, which might be better read with a glass of wine!
What are all those poles about?
Let’s dig into the various definitions first, to try make head or tail of it all.
A geographical pole is defined as “either of two fixed points on the surface of a spinning body or planet, at 90 degrees from the equator, based on the axis around which a body spins”. In layman’s terms, picture the earth spinning (yes, just like a spinning top when you were a child), and the axis of that spin tells you where the geographical poles are (yes again, it is the place where you push down on the handle to make your spinning top, well, spin!)
A magnetic pole is defined as “the locations on the planet's surface at which the planet's magnetic field lines are vertical”. The North and South magnetic poles (also called dip poles) are not, surprise, surprise, antipodal. What does that mean? Well, simply said, those 2 points are not in exact opposite sides of the planet because things would just be too easy otherwise.
Geomagnetic poles are defined as “antipodal points where the axis of a best-fitting dipole intersects the surface of Earth”. Bottom line, this one looks a lot like a human made up pole, to make the magnetic pole looks antipodal. No idea what is the use of it all, but still, here goes your third pole!
Ceremonial South Pole is defined as “an area set aside for photo opportunities at the South Pole Station” and is made of “a metallic sphere on a short barber pole, surrounded by the flags of the original Antarctic Treaty signatory states”. I am not one to judge (much), but this looks a lot like yet another human made up pole. Why make it simple when you can over complicate everything!
So, you have it, 7 poles.
But, wait a second, how do we know which pole we talk about on a daily basis? Granted, I don’t mention the poles that often myself! When talking about North and South Pole in our everyday lives we refer to the geographic poles, which are also called: Geographic North/South Pole, Terrestrial North/South Pole or 90th Parallel North/South. The South Pole is also known as Antarctica, but I don’t think we refer to the North Pole as Arctica much, at least not in the English language.
If you are wondering, yes, my head hurts a little, and this is just the beginning!
What do you mean poles are moving?
Well, yes, all these poles move! Here comes another certainty of life shattered.
Let’s start by the geographic pole, which is the axis around which Earth spin on itself, as a result of the way the planet was formed: there was once a cloud of gas in which atoms and molecules had a tendency to move in one direction. As the cloud collapsed under gravity, the motion continued to this day.
Now remember that Earth is not a perfect sphere, and so the axis moves, and according to a NASA article, the planet “drifts and wobbles”. For some reasons, I am left picturing Earth as a big not-so-round jelly ball!
It appears that the Earth axis moves by 4 inches (10 centimetres) per year, and by about 11 yards (10 meters) per century.
And so, geographic poles move!
Let’s continue with the magnetic poles, which are the places on earth where the geomagnetic field is vertical. Said magnetic field is, according to an MIT article, “powered by the solidification of the planet’s liquid iron core” which results in the creation of a “powerful electric currents that generate a magnetic field stretching far out into space”. In my head, I see a round-shaped chocolate fondant, and before you ask, yes, I realise I should probably stop thinking about food!
According to a NASA article, “the position of Earth’s magnetic north pole was first precisely located in 1831. Since then, it’s gradually drifted north-northwest by more than 600 miles (1,100 kilometres), and its forward speed has increased from about 10 miles (16 kilometres) per year to about 34 miles (55 kilometres) per year”.
And so, magnetic poles move!
The Magnetic North Pole was originally located in Canada which explains the first verse of the national anthem:
“O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.”
To be clear with y’all, I am not the one informing our Canadian friends that a) the True North is heading to Russia and b) they might need to update the national anthem established at the end of the 19th century.
Just in case you are wondering, the South Magnetic Pole is also shifting, first because of the shift of the magnetic pole itself but also because of the polar drift (yes, the ice is also moving; at this stage it might be simpler to ask what isn’t moving in life!). But, interestingly enough, it seems that the rate of change of Magnetic North Pole is different from the one of the Magnetic South Pole! Go figure.
Considering the geomagnetic poles are linked to the magnetic poles, if the latter change, the former would follow too, and the Ceremonial South Pole is also adjusted every year.
In addition of all this moving, don’t forget that the poles also flip from time to time… up is down and north is south! They do so roughly every 300,000 years. According to paleomagnetic records (which are geomagnetic data preserved in rocks and minerals), Earth poles flipped 183 times in the last 83 million years, and many more time before that.
To summarise it all: nothing in life is fixed or inert. Life as a human being has gotten a lot more uncertain, at least for me!
With all those poles, what about compass and maps?
As you might have guessed, a compass, which is all about magnetism, point to the magnetic poles, while maps are laid out with the Geographic North Pole at the top, because let’s face it, life wasn’t complicated enough at that stage.
Bottom line, you can’t use your compass to get to the Geographic North Pole (or South Pole for that matter). If you do, you are going to be off by few hundred miles, which, in an environment that cold, might be a terrible idea, really.
The difference between magnetic pole and geographic pole is called magnetic inclination and varies depending on where you are on Earth. For example, the magnetic inclination will be 20 degrees in New Zealand but only 6 degrees in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). Most compasses have an option to account for magnetic inclination.
If, like me, you are challenged when it comes to sense of direction, well, good luck friends!
Which nation owns the poles?
Short answer? Nobody!
The North Pole is subjected to International Law, and therefore no country owns it or the surrounding Artic Ocean.
The South Pole, or Antarctica, does not belong to anyone either. As a prime example of international diplomacy, Antarctica is governed under the Antarctic Treaty (signed in 1959), which identify the continent as a place devoted to peace and science.
Strangely it seems being devoted to peace and science is easier without easily accessible natural resources such as diamond, gold or oil. Just saying, not judging!
Last few randoms thoughts
In 1907, Canada invoked a claim on a sector of the North Pole. The claim has been pending ever since and was not pressed until 2013. Canadian are known for being polite. I think we can add stubborn!
In 2007, the Russians decided to plant a 1 metre titanium Russian flag (including a time capsule and a pro Putin flag) at the bottom of the Ocean of the Geographic North Pole. Just to be clear, we are talking about a seabed located 4,261 metres (13,980 ft) below the Polar ice; if it’s not commitment, I don’t know what this is.
That being said, because of the constant movement of the geographic poles, that flag hasn’t actually been exactly on the North Pole since it was put down. It was 12 metres off in 2009 and 20 centimetres off in 2010. I found the best quote on the Britannica website: “basically, the Earth is doing the biggest, slowest pole dance ever around the Russian flag”.
Now for the most critical question of all: which North Pole does Santa live in?
If Santa lives in the Geographic North Pole, then a change of few centimetres a year won’t do much. If you can make it through the ice cap, you can find his home. Also, as the North Pole doesn’t belong to anybody, Santa has a type of international citizenship. I kind of dig that!
But if Santa lives at the Magnetic North Pole, then Santa has been Canadian for a while now, which I find hard to wrap my head around, and it gets better. With the magnetic pole moving, Santa is on its way to becoming Russian, and that, my brain can’t quite process.
I think we should all agree that Santa lives either a) at the geographical North Pole or b) in a magical North Pole which has not yet been studied. Before you ask, I am not willing to consider that there might be an option c) Santa doesn’t exist. What’s next, Unicorns don’t exist? Nonsense!
As per the Britannica website: “In short, the north pole's whereabouts depend on what you care about.”
And finally, we are at the end, and in case you still wonder, this topic was the rabbity hole of all rabbity holes!
Sources: