Crash & Burn,
ZK DAN's formula is fine if applied correctly to get the right answer which certainly is not 298' or so.
Perhaps an easier way to get a grip on it may help.
If the Earth were flat your thoughts would be correct. But it is round so at 31'56 South your Sensible Horizon; that is the horizontal plane from the observer's eye is tilted 31'56 to the left of the Sensible Horizon at the Equator; so you see the sun "around the corner."
If you can imagine the sensible horizon at the Equator as a tangential line extending out past your position it would be 31'56 degrees above your sensible horizon. Fortunately the Earth is round, not flat, otherwise you would be flying underground.
[ 19 December 2001: Message edited by: pterodactyl ]