Shifting North Magnetic Pole Forces Rare Navigation Fix

Shifting North Magnetic Pole Forces Rare Navigation Fix
The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) is seen over a mountain camp north of the Arctic Circle, near the village of Mestervik on Oct. 1, 2014. Reuters/Yannis Behrakis
Reuters
Updated:

OSLO, Norway—Rapid shifts in the Earth’s north magnetic pole are forcing researchers to make an unprecedented early update to a model that helps navigation by ships, planes, and submarines in the Arctic, scientists said.

Compass needles point towards the north magnetic pole, a point that has crept unpredictably from the coast of northern Canada a century ago to the middle of the Arctic Ocean, moving towards Russia.