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2006-08-08 05:32:41 · 4 answers · asked by jmtrevino03 1 in Travel Canada Other - Canada

4 answers

Magnetic North isn't a static point on the map, but a magnetic point. It moves in a giant elipse more or less around the North Pole. It was first mapped in the 1950s by Canadian geophysicists, who had to go by dogsled and literally track it with magnetic detectors. Skidoos and GPS's make keeping track of it much simpler today.
At times it is quite close to the true north pole, and at other times, wanders quite far off.

2006-08-08 07:55:27 · answer #1 · answered by old lady 7 · 1 0

Look in the legend and you will find a symbol with a star for true north. Then there is grid north on the map. Magnetic north is found with a compass.

2006-08-08 05:37:02 · answer #2 · answered by higherground_pastor 3 · 0 0

Magnetic north changes. If you want to find out for your area, call a local surveyor office and they might provide the information. For example: Magnetic north for this area (Seattle) runs about 2 degrees off true north most of the time.

2006-08-08 05:38:06 · answer #3 · answered by Paul 4 · 0 0

Defining the North Pole of Earth
The North Pole can be defined in five different ways:

The Geographic North Pole, also known as True North, is the basis for the astronomic north pole, which is defined as approximately the point at which the axis of rotation meets the surface rotating counter-clockwise around the axis as observed from space. It is also the northernmost point on Earth; the point at which any linear direction of travel is south. The term North Pole by itself usually refers to this definition.
The Magnetic North Pole is one of the two poles of the Earth's geomagnetic field's dipole moment, specifically the one that is closest to the geographic north pole. Navigators refer to it as the magnetic north pole because by knowing the angular declination from it to the geographic north pole where they are (usually printed on maps) they can determine the direction of the geographic north pole. Ironically, the magnetic north pole happens to be the Earth's south dipole moment, because by custom the magnetic poles are named after the geographic poles they are nearest. This pole moves in various ways, in ellipses, in a random motion over eons, and by the two poles switching places, as explained in the article below.
The Geophysical North Pole is a term designed to clarify the ambiguity caused by term magnetic north pole as used by navigators to find the geographic north pole, when the Earth is treated as a magnet, as in physics. Ironically, the geophysical north pole is the same as the magnetic south pole, since the south end of magnets (such as the end of compass needles marked N) are attracted to the geophysical north pole. The reason for this confusion is in the origin of the terms north and south pole in physics. The north and south poles of magnets (the dipoles) are named for the poles of the earth they are attracted to when used as compasses, which was one of the original uses of magnets (see magnetism).
The Geomagnetic North Pole is the north end of the axis of the magnetosphere, the geomagnetic field that surrounds earth, currently at latitude 78°30' North, 69°, which is north of Qaanaaq (Thule) in Greenland. Compasses are not affected significantly by this magnetic field.
The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is defined as the point in the Arctic farthest from any coastline, and is at 84°03′N 174°51′W. Similar poles exist in the Pacific and Indian oceans, and there is a dry land pole of inaccessibility in the Antarctic.

Check the wikipedia link
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2006-08-08 06:23:46 · answer #4 · answered by Starreply 6 · 0 0

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