Planet’s erratic magnetic field powers crisis refresh to worldwide navigation system
Earth's magnetic north pole is veering towards Siberia at a unimaginably quick rate, and specialists don't know why.
The erratic movement has forced the scientists tasked with checking the planet's magnetic field to refresh their framework that underlies worldwide navigation, from Google Maps to shipping.
As liquid iron swirls around in the Earth's core, the magnetic field – and in this manner the poles – shift around gradually and often unpredictably.
Researchers should occasionally refresh the World Magnetic Model to map this process, and the latest variant – delivered in 2015 – was expected to last until 2020.
In any case, the attractive field has been changing so rapidly and unpredictably that while conducting a routine check in early 2018, British and US scientists realise...