Earth's Magnetic North Pole drifts again: What's causing this shift?

The magnetic north pole is once again on the move—this time inching ever closer to Siberia.

Scientists released an updated version of the World Magnetic Model (WMM) because they needed to adapt to these continuous alterations in navigational systems across the globe. People use the model to guide aeroplanes and naval vessels as well as smartphones and all GPS-enabled devices through millions of systems for precise directional guidance.

Unlike the geographic North Pole, which remains fixed, magnetic north is shaped by the chaotic flow of molten iron within Earth’s outer core. This restless movement of metal generates the planet’s magnetic field—a force invisible to the eye but deeply influential in everything from global navigation to shielding Earth from solar radiation.

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Magnetic North Pole slows after decades of swift movement

First identified in 1831 by British explorer James Clark Ross in northern Canada, the magnetic north has since drifted thousands of kilometres. Around the turn of the 21st century, it moved offshore from Canada and began a steady path toward Russia.

In the 1990s, the pole sped up, travelling up to 55 kilometres annually. That speed later decreased to about 35 kilometres per year after 2015.

The latest update, released on December 17, features two versions: the standard model with a 3,300-kilometer resolution at the equator, and a new high-resolution model refined to about 300 kilometers. While most consumer devices still utilize the standard version, the enhanced precision of the new model is tailored for use in military operations and commercial aviation.

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How magnetic field shifts could impact wildlife and modern technology

“This model update will require a huge number of complex navigation systems across all kinds of equipment to be recalibrated,” Dr William Brown of the British Geological Survey told Indian Defence Review.

“The more you wait to update the model, the larger the error becomes. Our forecast is mostly an extrapolation given our current knowledge of the Earth’s magnetic field,” Dr. Arnaud Chulliat, a senior research scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder and NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, told IDR.

“We do not anticipate needing to release a new model before the planned update in 2030,” said Brown, but he cautioned that “it could change its rate, or even speed up again.”

The last such move happened roughly 780,000 years ago. Species like whales, turtles, birds, and butterflies that depend on the magnetic field for navigation could be significantly affected.

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While life on Earth has endured many of these flips, none have occurred in an era reliant on digital and satellite technology. “It would certainly be an interesting time for engineers to adapt our technology to, but hopefully one they’d have a slow, centuries-long build-up to, rather than any sudden change,” Brown reflected.