Earth's fast-moving magnetic north pole is messing with navigation
An update on true north had to come ahead of schedule.
The Earth's magnetic north pole is constantly on the move, but it's now
enough of a problem that it's having a significant effect on navigation
technology. Scientists at the National Centers for Environmental
Information have delivered an update to the World Magnetic Model a year
early after "unplanned variations in the Arctic region" (read: quick
movements) made the existing magnetic north inaccurate. That's a problem
for virtually every device with a magnetic compass, including
smartphones, military vehicles and airliners.
Magnetic north is moving at a rate of 34 miles per year, up from 9 miles
per year in 2000. And there's nothing humanity can do but try to keep
up. Turbulence in the planet's liquid outer core shifts Earth's poles in
ways that are "unpredictable," leaving researchers scrambling to track
the changes.
This doesn't mean you can't trust your favorite mapping app. While the
World Magnetic Model does play a role in GPS services, those rely
primarily on satellites to get you from A to B. Just don't be surprised
companies and governments alike have to work that much harder to adapt,
especially for Arctic expeditions where north pole changes would be much
more noticeable.
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