Posts : 142 Join date : 2011-09-17 Age : 38 Location : U.S.
Subject: Earth's Magnetic Field Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:19 pm
Compasses are off, three percent or ten degrees, due to the Earth's magnetic field shifting. The magnetic field normally does move, but not at the alarming rate of 40 miles per year.
Taking the rate at which it is currently moving, if it doesn't speed up or slow down, it will have shifted around 1,200 miles within 30 years. That would be very significant in terms of about one third of the United States in distance.
FleurDeLis Admin
Posts : 635 Join date : 2011-09-14 Location : Texas
Subject: Re: Earth's Magnetic Field Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:12 am
Traditional needle compasses? Or does that apply to the newer tech devices too? ... It's nuts though, 1200 miles in 30 years??? Damn.
Smiley Admin
Posts : 142 Join date : 2011-09-17 Age : 38 Location : U.S.
Subject: Re: Earth's Magnetic Field Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:44 am
Definitely traditional compass, though I'm not sure exactly how aviation compasses work. That makes me wonder if traditional compasses that are manufactured currently are taking into account the change. Only way to know is to take an older compass and buy a new one, then compare to see if North doesn't match.
It would have been interesting if it was mentioned how far the magnetic poles normally moves a year and how long it took for there to be a change in ten degrees.
FleurDeLis Admin
Posts : 635 Join date : 2011-09-14 Location : Texas
Subject: Re: Earth's Magnetic Field Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:48 am
I was wondering about the current compass manufacture too; and, how the military deals with that ...
Smiley Admin
Posts : 142 Join date : 2011-09-17 Age : 38 Location : U.S.
Subject: Re: Earth's Magnetic Field Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:53 am
FleurDeLis wrote:
I was wondering about the current compass manufacture too; and, how the military deals with that ...
Maybe classified? Lol...
However, definitely important when taking into account National Security.
FleurDeLis Admin
Posts : 635 Join date : 2011-09-14 Location : Texas
Subject: Re: Earth's Magnetic Field Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:59 am
Indeed!
And then there is the cost of replacing all those out of date compasses ... though, by military standards that should take about 10years lol.