Magnetic north just changed. Here's what that means.

Earth's Magnetic North Pole Shifts toward Siberia

National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) scientists have updated the world magnetic model (WMM) mid-cycle, as Earth's northern magnetic pole has begun shifting quickly away from the Canadian Arctic and toward Siberia, an NCEI report said this week. While the new WMM more accurately represents the change of the magnetic field since 2015, it has no impact on propagation.

Updated versions of the WMM are typically released every 5 years. This update comes about 1 year early.

This map shows the location of the north magnetic pole (white star) and the magnetic declination (contour interval = 2°) at the start of 2019. [Photo courtesy of NOAA NCEI/CIRES]

"This out-of-cycle update before next year's official release of WMM 2020 will ensure safe navigation for military applications, commercial airlines, search and rescue operations, and others operating around the North Pole," said NCEI, which is part of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "Organizations such as NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, US Forest Service, and many more use this technology. The military uses the WMM for undersea and aircraft navigation, parachute deployment, and more." Other governmental entities use the technology for surveying and mapping, satellite/antenna tracking, and air traffic management. Smartphone and consumer electronics companies also rely on the WMM to provide consumers with accurate compass apps, maps, and GPS services.

Airport runways may be the most visible example of a navigation aid updated to match shifts in Earth's magnetic field. Airports around the country use the data to give runways numerical names, which pilots refer to on the ground. The declination has changed slightly more than 2.5° over the past 2 decades or so. Compasses use declination -- the difference between true north and where a compass points -- to help correct navigation systems for a wide variety of uses. Read more. -- Thanks to NOAA-NCEI

Replies

Wm February 8, 2019 at 10:09am

Earth's Magnetic North Pole Shifts toward Siberia

National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) scientists have updated the world magnetic model (WMM) mid-cycle, as Earth's northern magnetic pole has begun shifting quickly away from the Canadian Arctic and toward Siberia, an NCEI report said this week. While the new WMM more accurately represents the change of the magnetic field since 2015, it has no impact on propagation.

Updated versions of the WMM are typically released every 5 years. This update comes about 1 year early.

This map shows the location of the north magnetic pole (white star) and the magnetic declination (contour interval = 2°) at the start of 2019. [Photo courtesy of NOAA NCEI/CIRES]

"This out-of-cycle update before next year's official release of WMM 2020 will ensure safe navigation for military applications, commercial airlines, search and rescue operations, and others operating around the North Pole," said NCEI, which is part of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "Organizations such as NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, US Forest Service, and many more use this technology. The military uses the WMM for undersea and aircraft navigation, parachute deployment, and more." Other governmental entities use the technology for surveying and mapping, satellite/antenna tracking, and air traffic management. Smartphone and consumer electronics companies also rely on the WMM to provide consumers with accurate compass apps, maps, and GPS services.

Airport runways may be the most visible example of a navigation aid updated to match shifts in Earth's magnetic field. Airports around the country use the data to give runways numerical names, which pilots refer to on the ground. The declination has changed slightly more than 2.5° over the past 2 decades or so. Compasses use declination -- the difference between true north and where a compass points -- to help correct navigation systems for a wide variety of uses. Read more. -- Thanks to NOAA-NCEI
Kim B February 6, 2019 at 1:05pm

Agree with Wm.
Wm February 5, 2019 at 10:02pm

Correct

Cheryl Nelson said:

I'm sure the forces at play are not what they are telling us. But, no, I hadn't heard the earth was being straightened (meaning not tilted on its axis, right?)

Wm said:

OK U know that the Earth is being straighten by the ones in charge right! It has to be done by a certain cosmic event!
Cheryl Nelson February 5, 2019 at 7:07pm

I'm sure the forces at play are not what they are telling us. But, no, I hadn't heard the earth was being straightened (meaning not tilted on its axis, right?)

Wm said:

OK U know that the Earth is being straighten by the ones in charge right! It has to be done by a certain cosmic event!
Wm February 5, 2019 at 1:52pm

OK U know that the Earth is being straighten by the ones in charge right! It has to be done by a certain cosmic event!

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