# The south pole **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 27, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-south-pole/1743 "2000-04-27T22:47:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-south-pole/1743/1 "2000-04-27T22:47:00Z")
here’s my question: I’ve believed for a long time that the mean temperature at the south pole is lower than that at the north pole. I do know that the lowest temperature ever recorded was recorded there, although that certainly doesn’t affect mean temperature - but it does say something. (what?) I don’t know if it’s even true, but if it is, what are some hypotheses to explain it? ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2000, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-south-pole/1743/2 "2000-04-28T00:06:00Z")
Well, I’m no meteorologist, but it seems likely that the higher temperature up north comes from the effect of the Arctic Ocean. Water always moderates climate, because of its high heat capacity. It resists large variations in temperature, either up or down. The South Pole, being in the middle of a continent, is not defended by the sea. Land more quickly radiates away what heat is absorbed during the warm periods. * * * “If you prick me, do I not…leak?” --Lt. Commander Data ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2000, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-south-pole/1743/3 "2000-04-28T00:20:00Z")
Are you referring to this Straight Dope column, “[Are the earth’s poles going to shift soon? (03-Apr-1987)](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_117.html)”, where Cecil Adams says > [@](#): > > Noone believes that on May 5, 2000, massive ice buildup in the antarctic will cause the earth to shift 90 degrees on its axis so that what are now the polar regions will end up at the equator. I agree with Saltire’s explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2000, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-south-pole/1743/4 "2000-04-28T01:10:00Z")
Another (possible) factor is that the Southern Hemisphere has it’s summer when the Earth is closer to the Sun, and winter when it’s farther, so southern seasons tend to be a bit more extreme than northern. This would definitely help explain the south pole holding the record temperature, although I’m not sure what effect it would have on the average… * * * “There are only two things that are infinite: The Universe, and human stupidity-- and I’m not sure about the Universe” –A. Einstein ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-south-pole/1743/5 "2000-04-29T23:00:00Z")
Another explanation is that the South Pole is located about 7,000 feet above sea level, whereas the North Pole is AT sea level. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-south-pole/1743/6 "2000-04-30T02:41:47Z")
Man, you guys are great. I should have known that a Straight Dope bbs would be high quality. I think all three ideas have merit: water effect, higher altitude, greater distance from the sun. Could there be anything else? ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-south-pole/1743/7 "2000-04-30T07:52:55Z")
The south pole has no elfin body heat.