The North Magnetic Pole of the Earth has shifted: what happened?

The U.S. National Centers for Environmental Information and the British Geological Survey have released a new version of the World Magnetic Model, which predicts changes in Earth's magnetic field over the next five years. This model, which highlights the difference between the North Magnetic Pole and the geographic North Pole, plays a crucial role in satellite and aviation navigation, as well as enabling smartphone users to navigate using mapping applications, reports Live Science.

According to scientists, the World Magnetic Model is continuously updated, and these modifications are essential for maintaining the functionality of navigation systems and for creating more accurate forecasts of Earth's magnetic field behavior. The new model indicates that the North Magnetic Pole has shifted its position.

Why Does Earth Have a Magnetic Field?

Earth's global magnetic field is generated in the outer core of our planet. This layer of electrically conductive molten iron is in constant motion. As the liquid iron flows through the existing weak magnetic field, this movement generates an electric current. This current, in turn, creates its own magnetic field, leading to a process known as the geodynamo.

The geodynamo continuously sustains the existence of Earth's global magnetic field for billions of years. Without this process, Earth's magnetic field would have vanished.

Where Is the North Magnetic Pole Located?

The North Magnetic Pole differs from the geographic North Pole, which remains fixed in one location. The geographic North Pole is the point where Earth's axis of rotation meets the planet's surface and where all lines of longitude converge. The North Magnetic Pole is a point in the Northern Hemisphere where Earth's magnetic field lines point directly downward.

The movement of Earth's outer core causes the North Magnetic Pole to shift by tens of kilometers each year. In contrast, the South Magnetic Pole does not move in the same manner due to the asymmetry of Earth's global magnetic field. Changes in the intensity of the magnetic field near the geographic North Pole have caused the North Magnetic Pole to migrate from the Canadian Arctic towards Siberia in recent years.

What Is the World Magnetic Model?

The World Magnetic Model is a mathematical representation of Earth's global magnetic field and a forecast of how it will evolve over the next few years. The model integrates data from satellites and high-precision magnetometers located in ground observatories.

Navigation applications utilize the World Magnetic Model in conjunction with GPS to orient users.

Why Was the World Magnetic Model Updated?

Scientists release a new version of the World Magnetic Model every five years to account for changes in Earth's global magnetic field due to the movement of the outer core. It has been five years since the last update.

Additionally, one reason for the update is that the behavior of the magnetic field changes in unpredictable ways. As a result, the accuracy of the World Magnetic Model declines over time.