Magnetic North Pole's shift towards Russia defies predictions
Scientists have recorded unexpected activity in the Arctic, as the magnetic North Pole is shifting towards Russia in a way never observed before, reports "Independent".
Unlike the geographic one, the Earth's magnetic North Pole frequently changes its position. However, scientists have noticed that it has been doing so at a surprising pace recently.
For centuries, the magnetic North Pole moved along the northern coast of Canada. In the 1990s, it drifted into the Arctic Ocean and then accelerated towards Siberia.
"Independent" describes that from the 1600s to 1990, it moved about 9-14 kilometres per year, and at the beginning of the 21st century, it accelerated to about 55 kilometres per year. Then, as it seemed that its position change would pick up speed, the pole slowed down - over the past five years, it has slowed to about 26 kilometres per year. Such a slowdown has never been recorded before.
Dr William Brown, a geomagnetic field expert at the British Geological Survey (BGS), describes the Earth's magnetic field as being produced by a vast, turbulent mass of liquid iron rotating within the planet. Although scientists can track and observe its changes, forecasting its future behaviour with precision remains challenging.
Knowing the pole's position is essential for navigation, satellite tracking, measurements and mapping, and managing air traffic. "The World Magnetic Model is embedded in nearly all navigation technologies, including smartphones, cars, and aircraft," said Dr. Brown in an interview with the Independent.
The pole's movement is caused by unpredictable fluctuations in the movement of liquid iron, which makes up most of the Earth's outer core. This liquid metal moves due to heat released from the planet's core, creating the Earth's magnetic field. Changes in this swirling movement, at a depth of about 3,200 kilometres, affect the magnetic field and the pole's position.
Although accurately predicting the pole's movements is impossible, the BGS monitors the Earth's magnetic field, utilizing a network of ground stations and satellites to map the field in various locations.
