“Uncharted Shifts: The Surprising Truth Behind Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Movement and Its Hidden Implications”
What Is Earth’s Magnetic North Pole And Why Does It Move?
BGS/UKRI/Wessel, P./W. H. F. SmithA map showing magnetic declination, or the angle between true north and magnetic north.
Earth’s north pole comes in two forms: true north and magnetic north.
True north refers to the geographic north pole, the fixed point where Earth’s rotational axis meets its surface. It is aligned with lines of longitude, which converge at this point. In contrast, magnetic north is the shifting location where Earth’s magnetic field lines point vertically downward, a result of the planet’s molten outer core generating a magnetic field.
As the molten metals in the core churn, Earth’s magnetic field shifts as part of a process called geodynamo. In addition to protecting the planet from harmful solar radiation and solar winds, Earth’s magnetic field and magnetic north in particular have played an integral role in navigation.
For centuries, compasses — devices containing magnetized needles that align with the magnetic north pole — have guided sailors, soldiers, and explorers across the globe. However, it wasn’t until 1831 that explorer James Clark Ross identified the precise location of Earth’s magnetic north pole, sparking ongoing efforts by researchers to track its movement.
BGS/UKRI/Wessel, P./W. H. F. SmithMap showing magnetic north pole moving between 1600 and 2025.
Today, the magnetic north pole plays a crucial role in numerous navigational systems that remain essential worldwide. It is so integral that the scientific community releases a new edition of the World Magnetic Model (WMM) every five years to keep navigation systems around the world updated as it shifts.
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