The Mysterious Journey of the Magnetic North Pole: Geographical Coordinates and Dynamics

The Earth's magnetic field is a complex phenomenon that has captured the attention of scientists for centuries. Not only does this magnetic field constantly move, but it also reverses on average once every 450,000 years, a process that may last 10,000 years and can result in more than just two magnetic poles.

Understanding the Geomagnetic Poles

Based on the World Magnetic Model (WMM) 2020 coefficients for 2020, the geomagnetic north pole is located at 72.68°W longitude and 80.37°N latitude, while the geomagnetic south pole sits at 107.32°E longitude and 80.37°S latitude. The inclination of the dipole axis with respect to the Earth's rotation axis is currently 9.41°.

The position of the Earth's magnetic north pole was first precisely located in 1831. Since then, it has drifted steadily north-northwest by over 600 miles (1100 kilometers) and its speed has increased from about 10 miles (16 kilometers) per year to about 34 miles (55 kilometers) per year. According to the International Geomagnetic Reference Field model, the 2020 location of the North Magnetic Pole is 86.50°N and 164.04°E, while the South Magnetic Pole is at 64.07°S and 135.88°E.

Geographic vs. Magnetic Poles

The geomagnetic north and south poles are not the same as the geographic poles. The geographic north pole is the northernmost point on the Earth's surface, whereas the magnetic north pole is aligned with the Earth's magnetic field. The International Geomagnetic Reference Field model indicates that the current location of the North Magnetic Pole is near 80.8 degrees north by 72.7 degrees west, situated in Ellesmere Island, Canada. The magnetic north pole is about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away from the geographic north pole.

Processes Behind the Magnetic Field

The generation of Earth's magnetic field occurs deep within the Earth's interior, in the fluid outer core surrounding the inner core. The magnetic field is generated by convection currents in the molten iron outer core, a self-exciting dynamo process. These currents convert the convective energy from the slow-moving molten iron into electrical and magnetic energy.

The forces that generate the magnetic field are constantly changing, leading to the magnetic field itself being in a continual state of flux. This flux results in the magnetic poles gradually drifting and, in particularly dramatic times, completely inverting – meaning the north and south magnetic poles swap places – every 300,000 years or so.

Conclusion

Understanding the dynamics and coordinates of the Earth's magnetic poles is crucial for fields ranging from geophysics to navigation. As the magnetic poles drift, scientists and researchers must continue to monitor and record these changes to ensure accurate models and predictions.