This article is related to the magnetic declination. Other name of magnetic declination is magnetic variation.
Table of Contents
Definition Of Magnetic Declination
Magnetic declination is defined as “The difference between magnetic north and true north”.
Magnetic declination is indicated by the symbol δ.
Description
When this angle is east of true north, declination is positive; when it is west, declination is negative.
The magnetic declination varies with time and place. Since compasses point toward magnetic north, declination value is required to identify true north.
There are some important technical terms related to the magnetic declination.
True North
True north, also known as the geographical North Pole, is the direction that runs parallel to the surface of the earth. It is also referred to as the geodetic north and differs from the grid north, which is the direction along the grid lines that points north, and the magnetic north, which is the direction directed by the compass.
Grid North
The direction northward along a map projection’s grid lines is known as grid north. This phrase is used in navigation, and there is very little difference between the grid north and the real north.
Magnetic North
The direction in which the compass needle points in reaction to the earth’s magnetic field is known as magnetic north. Since the earth’s magnetic poles are not fixed in relation to its axis, the difference between true north and magnetic north fluctuates from place to place.
Magnetic Dip
The magnetic gradient is the horizontal angle formed by the lines of the Earth’s magnetic field. Magnetic dip also called as magnetic tilt. If the tilt is positive, the Earth’s magnetic field lines are assumed to be pointing down in the Northern Hemisphere, and if the tilt is negative, they are supposed to be pointing up in the Southern Hemisphere.
FAQ
How To Calculate Magnetic Declination?
Simplest way to calculate magnetic declination is by using compass. Magnetic various of the compass is known as magnetic declination.