North Pole Movement: Experts Wonder: The North Pole is moving toward Russia at a rate of 15 miles per year; here’s how it might affect your smartphones

Recently, the bar’s rapid motion, driven by turbulent molten iron, has slowed to about 15 miles per year, according to the World Magnetic Model. This is about 10 miles per year slower than its speed in 2020.

Dr. Ciaran Beggan of the British Geological Survey told the Daily Mail: “The magnetic pole has been moving very slowly around Canada for many centuries since the 16th century. In the last 20 years it has been accelerating north towards Siberia, increasing its speed every year until about five years ago when it suddenly decreased from 50 to 40 km per year.”

According to Beggan, this is a type of behavior that they have never observed before. This makes it more difficult to predict magnetic field changes. In contrast, the South Pole moves very slowly.

Although these shifts may seem insignificant to our daily lives, they affect us in different ways. Magnetic compasses are essential to modern navigation, guiding planes and submarines and even assisting the compasses on our smartphones.

Since the North Pole was discovered in 1831, the magnetic field has gradually moved towards Siberia. The World Magnetic Model, developed by the British Geological Survey in collaboration with the US National Geophysical Data Centre, primarily uses satellites from the European Space Agency.

Professor Phil Livermore of the University of Leeds suggests that fluctuations in the magnetic pole are caused by the movement of a jet stream of liquid iron inside the Earth’s core. Tracking this movement could help scientists predict changes, but the process is complex because the liquid iron is located deep below the Earth’s surface.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is it possible to buy magnetic compasses in the USA?
Yes, magnetic compasses are readily available to buy in the US in dedicated stores as well as through online purchases. Is Dr. Ciaran Beggan part of the British Geological Survey?
Ciaran Beggan is actually part of the British Geological Survey, and is one of the researchers dedicated to studying the North Pole.