Annual Geographic South Pole Marker Adjustment at Amundsen-Scott Station Due to Glacier Drift

A significant annual ritual takes place at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, situated deep in the heart of Antarctica. On January 1, 2026, the customary ceremony for installing the new marker designating the Geographic South Pole will occur. This crucial procedure is necessary to account for the relentless movement of the ice sheet upon which the American research facility is established. The massive ice body, resting at an elevation of 2,835 meters above sea level, is currently drifting toward the Weddell Sea at an approximate rate of 10 meters annually.

This yearly relocation of the symbolic benchmark, a tradition dating back to 1959, serves as a potent illustration of the dynamic nature of the ice cover, even at the precise intersection of Earth’s axis of rotation. The station itself is managed by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) under the umbrella of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). It holds the distinction of being the southernmost continuously occupied research center on the planet. Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the marker from the preceding year, typically fashioned into an ornate pillar, is carefully removed. It is then preserved inside a dedicated glass case within the station complex to safeguard the history of the location.

The current station structure was inaugurated in 2008, replacing the older geodesic dome design. This modernization was implemented to enhance resistance against heavy snow accumulation and the extreme environmental conditions. This requirement for annual recalibration underscores a fundamental reality: while the Geographic Pole is a fixed point defined by the planet's rotational axis, it rests upon a vast, slowly migrating platform of ice. It is important to clearly differentiate this process from the movement of the Magnetic South Pole. Unlike the geographic point, the magnetic pole is a mobile entity, currently drifting in a north-northwest direction at a speed approaching 55 kilometers per year.

The Geographic Pole itself is precisely defined by 90° South latitude and 0° longitude, serving as the foundational reference for global cartography. Measurements taken via GPS technology since 1991 have consistently verified the glacier’s drift speed, pinpointing it with high accuracy at 9.98 ± 0.01 meters per year. Research conducted at the Amundsen-Scott Station spans diverse fields, including astronomy, glaciology, and atmospheric sciences, benefiting immensely from the unparalleled air purity and the complete absence of light pollution. The station was initially established in November 1956 as part of Operation Deep Freeze, in preparation for the International Geophysical Year. It is named in honor of Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott, who both reached the Pole in 1911.

During the harsh winter period, the station population dwindles to approximately 50 personnel, swelling to around 150 during the austral summer. This fluctuation necessitates complex logistical planning, including the annual airlift operations originating from McMurdo Station. The annual marker exchange, frequently accompanied by the symbolic passing of the American flag from the old coordinate to the new one, constitutes a significant ritual for the staff enduring the six-month polar night followed by the six-month polar day. All these activities undertaken at the planet's southernmost point powerfully demonstrate the ongoing interplay between rigorous scientific investigation and the immutable forces of nature.