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2019-12-13 Science & Technology
Earth's magnetic north is shifting at an 'unprecedented' rate of 30 miles a year - throwing satellite positioning data and navigation systems off course
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Posted by Skidmark 2019-12-13 12:01|| || Front Page|| [11139 views ]  Top

#1 After circling northern Canada for hundreds of years, the approximate location of the magnetic north pole started moving speedily towards Siberia at around the turn of the century.

It's the damn Russians behind everything!!!
Posted by DarthVader 2019-12-13 14:42||   2019-12-13 14:42|| Front Page Top

#2 The idea that GPS depends upon magnetic pole information surprised me.

I'm not an expert but once your satellite is in orbit you don't adjust that orbit except by using a ton of fuel (or because you're adjusting altitude). I don't see how magnetic field is a factor at all.
Posted by rjschwarz 2019-12-13 14:46||   2019-12-13 14:46|| Front Page Top

#3 Using a map and compass would be thrown off, in time, but even then you tend to use the topography of the map more than the magnetic north.
Posted by rjschwarz 2019-12-13 14:47||   2019-12-13 14:47|| Front Page Top

#4 Celestial navigation will remain accurate nonetheless.
Posted by M. Murcek 2019-12-13 15:25||   2019-12-13 15:25|| Front Page Top

#5 Re #4 - Except that, IIRC, the earth is slowly moving so that in a few thousand years or so, Polaris will no longer be the north star.
Of course, the whole "magnetic north moving" thing can be blamed on global warming. Which is all Trump's fault.
Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2019-12-13 15:45||   2019-12-13 15:45|| Front Page Top

#6 ...yeah, our pole star Polaris was not the Egyptian pole star when they made the pyramids. Let's just say we're good for our lifetime.
Posted by Procopius2k 2019-12-13 15:51||   2019-12-13 15:51|| Front Page Top

#7 Will Santa have to relocate? Whaddaout the Fortress of Solitude?
Posted by Bobby 2019-12-13 17:19||   2019-12-13 17:19|| Front Page Top

#8 As we all know, magnets generate both an attractive and a repulsive force.

Rather than being attracted towards Siberia, I theorize that the movement of the pole is being driven by the ever-increasing concentrations of refrigerator magnets in the Southern United States, particularly in Texas.
Posted by SteveS 2019-12-13 19:18||   2019-12-13 19:18|| Front Page Top

#9 ^ I like the cut of your jib and would like to subscribe to your newsletter :-)
Posted by Frank G 2019-12-13 19:21||   2019-12-13 19:21|| Front Page Top

#10 Refrigerator magnets? No no no. It's all about magnetic signage on stealth campers migrating with the weather.
Posted by Angeatch the Tiny7188 2019-12-13 19:36||   2019-12-13 19:36|| Front Page Top

#11 Global magnetiting?
Posted by bbrewer126 2019-12-13 20:34||   2019-12-13 20:34|| Front Page Top

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