What is magnetic declination and what is the value for a particular spot in the world ?
The earth’s magnetic field has a dipole component that is roughly coincident with the spin axis. However, the north geographic pole (the spin axis) and the “north magnetic pole” are not found in the same place. This is because the Earth’s magnetic field is a complex phenomenon, and the location where the inclination of the field is 90 degrees (the “poles”) wander constantly due to fluctuations in the magnetic field. A compass points in the directions of the horizontal component of the magnetic field where the compass is located, and not to any single point. Knowing the magnetic declination (angle between true north and the horizontal trace of the magnetic field) for your location allows you to correct your compass for the magnetic field in your area. A mile or two away the magnetic declination may be considerably different, requiring a different correction. The figure above illustrates the variation in declination around the world. To calculate the current declination for a particular
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