What is the South Pole?
The South Pole is a seaside continent and as the name suggests it is the Southernmost point on the earth where the rotational axis meets. Another name is the geographical South Pole or the terrestrial South Pole. The geographical coordinates of this place are 90°south.
Some of the interesting facts about the South Pole
- No human habitation is there.
- Scientists think that in the distant past, there was a huge amount of green forest.
- There is a large amount of coal beneath the soil of the South Pole.
- It is one of the seven continents of the earth in Antarctica.
- Due to plate tectonics, the South Pole’s exact location is constantly moving.
- Due to its low temperatures humidity and high elevation, it has been considered an outstanding place to study Astronomy and Astrophysics.
What is Plate tectonics?
Plate tectonics is the process in which the large slabs of Earth’s crust move slowly around the planet, bumping into and pulling apart from one another.
For billions of years, the continents of the world have been shattered. Today, the site of what is now considered the east coast of South America million years ago was the South Pole.
The South Pole telescope studies low-frequency radiation like microwaves and radio waves. It is an instrument made to measure the cosmic microwave background (CMB)- faint, diffuse radiation away from the Big Bang.
Exploration History of the South Pole
“Racing on the pole” became a symbol of polar exploration at the beginning of the 20th century. It was first conquered by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on 14 December 1911. Edmund Hillary reached in the year 1958. There have been several subsequent expeditions to the South Pole by transporting surfaces including Havola, Crary, and Fiennes. The first woman group on the pole were Pam Young, Jean Pearson, Louis Jones, Eileen McSaveney, Kay Lindsay, and Terry Tickhill in 1969. Mollie Hughes became the youngest person to ski to the pole at the age of 29 on January 10, 2020.
South Pole map
- It is mostly covered with ice. It is located approximately 9301 feet (2835M) above sea level.
- The length of the shoreline is 22427 km.
- The volume of the South Pole is equal to the combined volume of Europe & Australia.
- There are many mountains & volcanos in this region.
- Mount Erebus volcano on Ross Island is one of the active volcanos.
- Vinson Massif is the highest peak with an elevation of 4892 m.
- The ice level here is about 2700 meters thick. That is, the actual surface area is approximately equal to the height of the sea surface.
- Although not as difficult as the North Pole, it is difficult to identify the South Pole precisely.
Position of South Pole
- Over time the position of the South Pole changes slightly.
- This is because the Earth’s rotation on its own axis is not balanced.
- Moreover, the ice poles are moving 10 meters on an average from 37°- 40°north latitude every year.
- Because of the earth’s own rotation, every object in the earth has a speed.
- But at the South Pole, the speed of all objects is zero. It has latitude but no longitude. Directions are made with the prime meridian.
Time zone in South pole
The sunrise and sunset occur once a year. The region does not include any specific time zones. But for practical and everyday use Amundsen- Scott South Pole Center is assisted by New Zealand time.
The South Pole weather
The climate is dry with only two seasons of summer and winter. The pole is not exposed to the sun from March to September hence it has night there and vice versa from 23rd September to the 21st March.
South Pole seasonability
TIME SEASONALITY
21st March to 21st June Winter
21st June to 23rd September Spring
23rd September to 22nd December Summer
22nd December to 21st March Autumn
South pole temperature
- It has the highest temperature in December & January, with a minimum temperature of -25°C.
- The average winter temperature in this pole is -58°C.
- On December 25, 2011, the all-time maximum temperature was -12°c.
- On June 23, 1982, the minimum temperature was -82°c.
- The relative humidity of the air at this pole is almost zero with an average of 166mm precipitation per year with no rain.
- But the region received heavy snowfall (20 cm).
- On the 22nd of December, the sun’s radiation fell vertically on the Capricorn line, therefore, the day is the largest and the night is shorter (14 hours a day and 10 hours a night).
- It is in the opposite direction of the sun from 21st March to 23rd September.
- So the sunlight does not reach here this time, the night is here.
Southern light or aurora Australis
At this time, the same magnetic distortion of different gaseous substances at the ion level (60-700 km) of the atmosphere creates a softer light. At this pole, it is called the Southern Light or Aurora Australis. The South Pole is colder than the North Pole because of the elevation difference. In most parts of the continent, snow rarely melts, and after being compressed the glacier becomes ice that forms a sheet of ice.
South pole temperature throughout the year (°C)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Max Temp(°C) | -24 | -30 | -48 | -50 | -52 | -54 | -56 | -55 | -50 | -46 | -32 | -26 |
| Min Temp(°C) | -28 | -40 | -56 | -60 | -61 | -62 | -63 | -63 | -58 | -53 | -40 | -29 |
South Pole in Antarctica
- The continent of Antarctica is at the center of the southern pole of the earth.
- This region has a minimum temperature of -40°C in the summer and temperature in winter -85°C.
- The region receives large amounts of snowfall and blizzard in winter.
- Scientists cannot enter this region during the winter for such weather.
- Therefore, scientists come to the region in the summer of December for scientific research.
- In January the isotherms at the South Pole are distant.
- The difference in temperature is not noticeable due to the fact that the water level is higher in the central and upper latitudes.
- The isotherms turn the shoreline to the ocean.
Flora & Fauna
- Although it has a teeming marine life, some biologists are conducting research at the Amundsen- Scott station.
- The habitat is very difficult for most animals to survive due to freezing temperatures.
- However, some types of algae, bacteria, fungi, etc. are seen here. In fact, it is the coldest driest, and windiest desert on earth.
- More temperate parts of this desert support native flora such as moss lichen, and organisms such as mites and midges.
- In the Gondwana journal, scientists reveal that dinosaurs’ feathers have found evidence to protect animals from extreme cold.
- Birds & and animals are seen here in some places.
- The penguin is one of the most popular birds in this polar region. They live in mountain caves along the coast and spend about half of their lives on land and the other half on the sea.
- There are also Petrel, Gull, Sheathbill, etc birds in this region. Occasionally there are seabirds such as skuas.
During the summer there are different types of seals. At birth, marine seal fish begin swimming. Although seals are called fish, they are not actually fish but mammals. No other mammals on earth learn to swim so quickly. There are many types of seals in the world. Among them, gray seals are more known to humans. The sealfish are full of keen intelligence. The gray seal is about 10 feet tall and weighs up to 270kg.
South Pole station
There are no settlements therefore no government on this pole. There is an “Antarctic Treaty System” and according to international law, no country in the world can claim ownership. The Amundsen- Scott South Pole Station, a permanent RESEARCH CENTER in the United States, is located at the Pole. This research center supported the continental drift theory. According to the theory of Continental Drift theory, continents have been isolated and are moving together. The amount of ozone layer damage is highest on the southern pole. The ozone level in this pole is made of cavities to be thin and its volume is increasing. In fact, the South Pole sits in the middle of the largest, coldest, driest desert in the world.
