Magnetic North

It was in late May or early June 2003 and we were camping at South Dakota's Custer State Park. This immense park is known for some unique natural features. We had a camp site at Sylvan Lake Campground. It was a sunny late morning and I decided to hike behind our campsite and look for some kindling. I recall the area being covered with tall trees, and little underbrush. It was actually rather pleasant and so I kept walking. Without a map or compass, I took note of where the sun was in the sky and knew which way was west, so the sun would gradually head that direction. This was one time I wished I had a compass to help guide me, with the compass taking advantage of the magnetic located deep in the earth's outer core.

My I-Phone Compass App

What occurred, is that the clouds moved in quickly and with the landscape looking the same in all directions, I became slightly disoriented. I had to try and figure out which way our campsite was. As it happened, I somehow reoriented myself and found myself in the campground, although at a different loop. Being a trained geographer, I know that I never get lost, I am just searching new territory, as I did that one fine late spring day in 2003. As far as my wife knows, I was just on a walk in the woods. 

But, a compass has to be recalibrated based on where the magnetic north is, although in many situations, one may not need that degree of accuracy, although it appears you could be off, depending on relation to the magnetic north by as much as 20 or more degrees. The difference between true and magnetic north is called magnetic declination (or variation).  But, magnetic north moves, and its rate seems to have increased over the past few decades, moving from Canada to Siberia. Magnetic north is currently moving about 27 mph, and in 30 or 40 years will be situated in Siberia, as Siberia is 750 to 1000 miles from the magnetic pole depending on which point is chosen. Its highest known speed was 31 map but has now slowed to about 22 mph. 

Accurate records of the magnetic pole movement have been kept since the 1830's, but there is sufficient data in the historical record to have fairly accurate assessments of some earlier positions. The change, and the rate of change can be noticed in the below map. A CNN article from January quotes a member of the British Geological Survey as saying "The current behavior of magnetic north is something we have never observed before." That change in speed is the biggest change they have seen.

Movement of Magnetic North, 1600-2025, Source: CNN
Asterisk is north pole

The movement of magnetic north is due to a variety of factors, changes in the magnetic field of the earth, 1800 miles below surface, and with it growing stronger in Siberia and weakening in Canada. Mostly it is due to the changing nature of the fluid dynamics of the molten iron and nickel that starts at that 1800 miles below the earth's surface. The shift may not have seemed major to me and my compass, but it plays a large role in a variety of fields like aviation, shipping and military equipment all depend on magnetic north for guidance. The US and Great Britain collaboratively update the declination every five years, which caused more problems when the rate of change was greater. They have a website, the World Magnetic Model, that will provide the declination for use by those that require it.

Earth's Core
Source: Google images

It has occurred to me that perhaps President Trump may still believe magnetic north is by Canada and that is why he desires it to be a 51st state. Or, if he does know that it is magnetic north moving, perhaps he is not really after Greenland, but is using it as a ruse to go after Siberia? So, the big picture question is can the movement of magnetic north explain his  geopolitical views? What magnetic north may realize, now that its rate of movement toward Siberia has slowed is that Siberia may not be an attractive location, either climatically or politically. 

I-Phone Compass App also
provides latitude and longitude

Today, hikers may depend on GPS on their phones (provided sufficient battery), or event a watch, two of many options over an old fashioned compass.  I grew up learning and using a compass in Boy Scouts. I still have that compass, that I received as either a birthday or Christmas gift, and take it camping. It was, in recent times, more used to position the solar panel on our camper than for hiking as I tend to now stick to trails. Yet, since most places we camp are rather heavily wooded, that is kind of a fool's errand, but one never knows what ray of sun may peak through with the sun high overhead. However, now I have an i-phone, which if charged can make that that compass is obsolete as I have the compass app on the I-phone. The I-phone app even asks if I wish to use true north, as I suppose as opposed to magnetic north.