North on the Move

[Danny_Labrador]

Magnetic north, the point at the top of the Earth that determines compass headings, is shifting its position at a rate of about 40 miles per year. In geologic terms, it's racing from the Arctic Ocean near Canada toward Russia.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/fl-magnetic-north-shift-20110218,0,2819271.story

 

[DaveS]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/fl-magnetic-north-shift-20110218,0,2819271.story

Well, I've learned something from that. I had no idea that runway designations were based on magnetic rather than true north. I am not a pilot, so maybe cannot appreciate some of the rationale for this, but am I alone in thinking that it is intrinsically bizarre? (The runway & true north remain fixed, so why change the designation?)

 

[Woodlouse]

Wow. Nothing like a bit of news. Magnetic north changes folks, and the chap in the article suggests

Cartier said large ships and planes have sophisticated electronic navigation systems, but the vast majority of small boats and planes have magnetic compasses and rely on them heavily.

"They don't have the money to spend for a sophisticated system," he said.

He added that boaters should always bring updated maps, showing the latest corrections for the magnetic north shift, even if they have GPS.

Update you maps!

It is interesting that runways are designated by magnetic north though, I'd have thought aircraft all had gyro compasses which would rather throw everything back into confusion...