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If you use a compass, it will not point to the very top of the planet, but instead will point to the magnetic north. This is a specific location where Earth’s magnetic field lines up straight to the ground. The one thing about this direction is that it is not static. It constantly shifts and moves over time and space.
Scientists also have known this fact for a very long time, and actually, since its first recorded location in northern Canada, the magnetic north has moved more than 1,500 miles or about 2,400 km. Right now, it is heading into Siberia, and experts are constantly tracking it as it is important for navigation. But why exactly does the Earth’s magnetic north not stay still? Let’s dive deeper.
Why Earth’s Magnetic North Doesn’t Stay Still
Earth has a magnetic field because deep inside our planet, in the outer core, there is a layer made up of liquid iron and nickel that is constantly moving. So, these flowing metals act like a giant electric magnet that creates a field that reaches all the way to space. This is a self-sustaining pattern often called geodynamo, where the heat that escapes outside the core and Earth’s rotation contribute to creating a swirling movement of the conducting liquid metal.
However, the flow inside the core is not a perfect pattern that is always steady. The liquid iron could move, and so is the magnetic field above it, too. This includes the spot where the magnetic field points straight down, or what we call the magnetic north. So, yes, the magnetic north has moved and is continuously moving at a varying rate.
Read more: National Centers for Environmental Information
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How Far and How Fast Has the Pole Moved?
The magnetic north was first located in northern Canada in 1831, but since then, repeated measurements over time show that it is moving toward Russia. Just over the 20th century, it was recorded to have moved roughly 1,100 km or about 680 miles. But one fact about it is that this movement actually sped up around the 1990s to the early 2000s.
From a movement of 10km per year, it transitions to up to 50 to 60km per year. But recent data from the 2020s shows that it has slowed down, but is still moving eastward towards Siberia. Current studies also suggest that this movement was due to two strong blobs of magnetic field changing like they are in a magnetic Tug of War. The one in Canada may have weakened, and the one in Siberia may have grown, causing the magnetic north to be pulled close to Asia, and away from Arctic Canada.
Author's Final Thoughts
For most people, this drift does not really affect their daily lives. But, it could still have an impact on our phones, compass, and transportation vehicles like airplanes and ships. Because the pole’s movement could be unpredictable, this has to be tracked and updated using the World Magnetic Model (WMM).
So, while the magnetic north continues its way to Siberia, it could serve as a reminder to us that our planet is not static. It is constantly changing in ways that could be even unpredictable. In a way, whether this magnetic north movement speeds up or slows down, we are all in for a ride with the planet.
Read next: If There’s No Oxygen in Space, Why Is the Sun on Fire? — Here’s What Scientists Explain
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