The magnetic North Pole, a crucial element of navigation systems worldwide, is shifting toward Russia in an unprecedented manner, as revealed by new data from the British Geological Survey (BGS). While the pole's movement is not new, its current behavior and pace have intrigued scientists.  

In the northern hemisphere, compass needles point to the magnetic North Pole, a location shaped by the Earth's ever-changing magnetic field. Unlike the geographic North Pole, which remains stationary at the convergence of longitude lines, the magnetic pole has been in constant motion.

 

Historically, it meandered near northern Canada’s coast but began accelerating toward Siberia in the 1990s. From 1600 to 1990, the pole moved approximately six miles annually. That rate surged to 34 miles per year in the 2000s, only to slow to 22 miles per year in the past five years—a deceleration that scientists have never recorded before.  

 

The findings come from the BGS, which collaborates with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to maintain the World Magnetic Model. Updated every five years, this model predicts the pole’s location and underpins technologies ranging from smartphone compass tools to military navigation systems. William Brown, a global geomagnetic field modeller at the BGS, emphasized its significance, stating, “Planes, boats, submarines, you name it, it’s in there.”  

 

The pole’s movement originates deep within the Earth, where molten iron churns in the planet's outer core. This liquid iron, driven by heat escaping from the core, generates the Earth’s magnetic field. Variations in the swirling patterns, roughly 2,000 miles below the surface, influence the magnetic field’s strength and the pole’s position. Describing this dynamic process, Brown compared it to a “giant cup of tea,” noting that the molten outer core has the viscosity of water and is in constant motion.  

 

Monitoring these shifts, however, remains complex. When Sir James Clark Ross, a Royal Navy officer and polar explorer, first located the magnetic pole in 1831, he relied on a magnetic needle that pointed directly downward. Today, the BGS employs advanced technology, using satellites and a network of ground stations to observe and map the Earth’s magnetic field. This data sheds light on the behavior of the molten core and its impact on the pole’s location.  

 

Professor Phil Livermore from the University of Leeds has offered an explanation for the pole’s unusual recent activity. He describes it as a “tug-of-war” between two magnetic patches—one beneath Canada and another under Siberia. Livermore explained that the Canadian patch seems to have stretched and split, slightly increasing the relative strength of the Siberian patch. This imbalance likely accounts for the pole’s gradual shift toward Russia.  

 

While predicting the future behavior of the magnetic North Pole remains elusive, the ongoing monitoring by scientists ensures a better understanding of these complex processes, which are vital for navigation and technology worldwide.

 

Based on a report by the Times and Sunday Times 2024-11-18

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

began accelerating toward Siberia in the 1990s.

 

Russia is stealing it?

Interesting that they do not say what will be a consequence of the pole moving.

Edited November 18, 20241 yr by Purdey

Putin, the great attractor.

F4ck...

I already knew about russian pigeons saluting him but this is really too much.

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Interesting that they do not say what will be a consequence of the pole moving.

It results in navigational instrument having to be adjusted to take account of the difference between degrees true (based on the geographic North pole)and degrees magnetic. The difference has been predictable far centuries and was published on charts as moving so many minutes East or west per year. Its the current unpredictabilty that is causing concern.