Magnetic North Pole

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The Magnetic North Pole is the wandering point on Earth's surface where the planet's magnetic field lines converge and point vertically downward, serving as the northern focus of Earth's magnetic field used in navigation.

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Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf geographical feature
geomagnetic phenomenon
navigation reference point
affects aeronautical navigation
land navigation
marine navigation
runway numbering at airports
causes magnetic declination relative to true north
coordinateSystem basis for magnetic coordinate systems
definedAs location where Earth’s magnetic field lines are vertical and point downward
describedBy International Geomagnetic Reference Field NERFINISHED
World Magnetic Model NERFINISHED
differentFrom geographic North Pole NERFINISHED
geomagnetic North Pole NERFINISHED
true North
fieldLinesOrientation magnetic field lines point vertically downward
hasApproximateDriftSpeed tens of kilometers per year in the late 20th and early 21st century
hasCause Earth’s outer core dynamo
hasDirectionOfDrift generally toward Siberia in the early 21st century
hasHistoricalObservation first located in the 19th century by polar explorers
hasOpposite magnetic South Pole NERFINISHED
hasProperty drifts across the Arctic region
not fixed to any landmass
position can be approximated but not perfectly stable
position changes over time
position updated periodically in navigation charts
wandering point on Earth’s surface
influences orientation of magnetic compasses in the Northern Hemisphere
isReferenceFor magnetic bearing calculations
magnetic navigation charts
locatedIn Arctic region
locatedOn Earth’s surface
measuredBy magnetometers
monitoredBy geophysical surveys
satellite observations
movesDueTo changes in Earth’s liquid outer core
partOf Earth NERFINISHED
relatedTo Earth’s magnetic field
magnetic South Pole NERFINISHED
role northern focus of Earth’s magnetic field
studiedBy geophysicists
studiedIn geomagnetism
usedBy compass navigation
usedFor navigation
wasLocatedNear Canadian Arctic Archipelago for much of the 20th century

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Magnetic South Pole isOppositePolarityOf Magnetic North Pole