From Canada to the Arctic to Siberia, the magnetic north pole moves. Why?

Earth’s magnetic north pole is on its way. It travels east and has moved from northern Canada to the Arctic. It is now heading towards Russia and at extremely fast speed. This change also affects our smartphones. What is happening?

It all comes down to the principles of electromagnetism. The magnetic north pole is the point to which a compass needle aligns. In the outer core in the center of our planet, there is a huge amount of molten iron. As the Earth spins and moves around the Sun, this iron moves and produces a magnetic field. This activity leads to the creation of two main currents – north and south. This is known as the Earth’s geodynamo system.

Since the 1830s, the Earth’s north magnetic pole has shifted a full 2,250 kilometers. Its speed has accelerated in the last few decades. According to a 2020 study, between 1990 and 2005, the rate of pole movement went from less than 15 kilometers per year to about 50 to 60 kilometers per year.

At this current speed, it will travel up 400 miles (660 kilometers) toward Siberia over the next decade, scientists say.

Global geomagnetic field modeler for the British Geological Survey (BGS) Dr. William Brown told The Independent that the magnetic pole is believed to have resided in northern Canada for centuries. However, it traveled towards the Arctic Ocean in the 1990s and is heading towards Russia.

According to the 2020 study, a change in the flow pattern in the Earth’s interior occurred between 1970 and 1999. The Canadian “blob” then elongated and could not hold on to the magnetosphere. This is what is driving the shift towards Siberia.

Brown says the rate of movement was about 55 kilometers per year until the late 2010s. But as it approaches Siberia, it has slowed down again, traveling at a speed of 25 kilometers. This has been the trend for the last five years.

How this affects people on Earth is the way our smartphones work. The Global Positioning System (GPS) and other satellite-based radio navigation systems would need to be repaired.

The navigation systems may become unusable if appropriate modifications are not made. The World Magnetic Model, designed by BGS with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, will work to fix that.

It will recommend the necessary changes to be made to the compasses of our smartphones.