The rate of shift of the North Magnetic Pole towards Russia has slowed down and now stands at about 25 kilometers per year, writes the Independent.
According to an expert from the British Geological Survey (BGS), this pole was located off the northern coast of Canada for centuries. However, in the 1990s, it began to move rapidly across the Arctic Ocean towards Siberia. If from 1600 to the end of the 20th century the speed of its movement was about 10–15 kilometers per year, then by the beginning of the 2000s it increased to 55 kilometers. But over the past five years, the process has slowed down again to the current 25 kilometers per year.
The reason for this phenomenon lies in the unstable flows of molten iron in the Earth's outer core, which form and regulate our planet's magnetic field. Unlike the geographic North Pole, the location of which is constant, the North Magnetic Pole is subject to constant movement.
The shift in the magnetic field is important for many areas: from military and civil aviation to maritime transport. To keep navigation systems up to date, data needs to be adjusted periodically. This applies not only to sophisticated equipment on airplanes and ships, but also to everyday devices such as smartphones and GPS navigators.
Notably, in February 2019, scientists from the U.S. National Environmental Information Institute already noted a record pole speed of 55 kilometers per year. They also predicted its further movement towards Russia. Updates on the state of the Earth's magnetic field are usually published every five years, but the sharp changes in the Arctic forced experts to speed up the publication of data. Instead of the planned end of 2019, the information was released ahead of schedule.
It is impossible to predict the exact movements of the pole. However, the British Geological Survey can monitor the Earth's magnetic field. The group uses a network of ground stations and satellites to "map" the field in different locations.
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