Scientists are worried: the North Pole is shifting its position unusually - what's happening?

Our Earth is a dynamic, ever-changing organism. This dynamism is most evident in the behaviour of the North Magnetic Pole, the point on the Earth's surface where the lines of magnetic field forces converge vertically. Unlike the geographic North Pole, which is fixed, the magnetic North Pole is in constant motion. But in recent decades it has moved in a particularly unexpected way - what can this mean?

Unexpected behaviour

The magnetic North Pole's constant motion is influenced by fluctuations in molten iron in the Earth's core. This movement is of great importance to global navigation systems, which depend on the precise positioning of the pole.

For this reason, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and BGS experts collaborate and periodically update the WMM, a mathematical model that describes the Earth's magnetic field and the location of the magnetic North Pole.

In recent decades, the magnetic North Pole has been moving at record speed from Canada to Siberia.

"The current behaviour of the magnetic North Pole is something we have never seen before," says BGS expert William Brown.

Initially reaching speeds of 50 km per year, it has slowed to 35 km per year over the past five years.

This slowdown is the biggest ever recorded. The movement is caused by two giant 'magnetic lobes' under Canada and Siberia, which affect the Earth's magnetic field and the position of the North Pole.

A better understanding of the North Pole

The newly released WMM updates data on the magnetic North Pole, giving a better and more accurate picture of it. 

This map will improve navigation on ships, planes and other vehicles that use a compass. 

For the first time, the map is presented in high-resolution with ten times more detail than before, allowing for more accurate orientation and fewer errors. 

WMM updates will be applied automatically, eliminating the need to manually update GPS devices. 

What are the problems caused by the movement of the magnetic North Pole?

The Magnetic North Pole is moving faster and faster towards Siberia, which poses challenges for navigation and various industries. 

Planes and ships making long journeys can experience higher fuel costs and military and rescue operations can suffer from errors due to inaccurate navigation data. 

The constant pole shift requires the updating of maps and geo-referencing systems, increasing costs and complexity. This affects both oil companies and natural resource management. 

Changes in the magnetic field can increase the vulnerability of infrastructure, especially during geomagnetic storms, and cause power outages. 

It can also disrupt the migration of animals, many of which use the magnetic field for orientation. 

Some scientists have speculated that these changes may signal an imminent magnetic pole reversal, with far-reaching consequences for the climate and the tech