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Credit: NOAA
Explanation:
A magnetic
compass does not point toward the
true North Pole of the Earth.
Rather, it more closely points toward the
North Magnetic Pole of the Earth.
The North Magnetic Pole is currently located in northern
Canada.
It wanders in an elliptical path each day, and
moves,
on the average, more than forty meters northward each day.
Evidence indicates that the
North Magnetic Pole has wandered over
much of the Earth's surface in the 4.5 billion years
since the Earth formed.
The Earth's magnetic field is created by Earth's partially ionized outer core,
which rotates more rapidly than the Earth's surface.
Indicated in the above picture is
Ellef Ringnes Island, the location of
Earth's North Magnetic Pole in 1999.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Earth - north pole - magnetic north
Publications with words: Earth - north pole - magnetic north
See also: