Why is the magnetic north pole moving at a speed of 60 km per year?

This year, no one should be surprised if Santa Claus needs to be rescued as he tries to return home after a tiring night of delivering gifts. The magnetic north pole, where all compasses point, passes through the North Pole. at rates not seen in the last 400 yearsAccording to satellite data.

Unlike the old man’s so-called home (the geographic North Pole located in the North Pole), the magnetic North Pole is moving many kilometers each year, driven by changes in the flow of liquid iron in the outer core. Soil.

Although it is the point where the Earth’s magnetic field lines are vertical, the magnetic North Pole often affects navigation systems with its constant movements, requiring maps and compasses to be updated to maintain accuracy. Besides, It’s amazing how it affects technology and nature around the world.

Differences between magnetic and geographic north pole

Scientists from the British Geological Survey (BGS) are teaming up with the US National Oceanic and Oceanic Administration to try to reduce the differences between “true north”, the geographical axis around which our planet rotates, and the magnetic north pointed by compasses. Atmospheric Survey every five years to update the World Magnetic Model.

WMM is an important standard system for global navigation and guidance. There are various maps that mathematically represent the Earth’s magnetic field and contain precise data about its strength and direction at any point on the planet.

The latest update in 2020 showed that a magnetic north spark was forming across the Canadian Arctic towards Siberia at an average speed of 55 km per year. According to BGS, this is the fastest change recorded since the mid-16th century. From 1590 to 1990 this speed was less than 10 km per year. when it suddenly reaches a speed of almost 60 km per year.

How are Earth’s magnetic poles formed?

Earth’s magnetic poles are created by the so-called convection movement that occurs in the outer core, between the Earth’s mantle and the solid inner core. Like an induction cooktop, the super-hot inner core (made of solid iron and nickel) heats the material above it, which is made up of the same ingredients, becoming less dense and rising.

As they approach the (cold) mantle, these materials cool, condense, and sink. Continuous repetition of this cycle in circular patterns, It causes the conductive iron to produce electric currents that create the Earth’s magnetic field, in a phenomenon called the dynamo effect..

The magnetic lines of force produced appear near the geographical poles, but not at exactly the same points, so the magnetic north pole does not coincide with the geographical north pole and always “floats” a few kilometers each year.

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