#1
The Scotsman (UK)
21 March 2002
Magnetic North Pole heads west for Russia
THE North Magnetic Pole could soon leave Canada, swing north of Alaska and eventually wind up in Russia, according to a Canadian scientist.
While the magnetic pole has steadily drifted for decades, it has speeded up in recent years and could exit Canadian territory as soon as 2004, Larry Newitt, of the Geological Survey of Canada, told CNN.
If the pole keeps to its present course, it will pass north of Alaska and arrive in Siberia in a half century, but Mr Newitt cautioned that such predictions could prove wrong.
"Although it has been moving north or north-west for 100 years, it is not going to continue in that direction forever. Its speed has increased considerably during the past 25 years," he said.
The pole can jump around considerably each day, but migrates on average about six to 25 miles each year. The daily movements are caused by charged particles emitted by the sun. The annual drift is due to the constantly fluctuating currents in the earth's molten core, which produces the magnetic field.
The North Magnetic Pole is distinct from the North Terrestrial Pole, the fixed point that marks the axis of the turning planet. At present, the magnetic pole is 600 miles from the geographic one. Because the magnetic pole lies in the Arctic Ocean, scientists trying to pinpoint its exact location must visit in spring.
"We always do this kind of work in May. We need frozen conditions so that we can land an airplane anywhere on ice or snow, but not so cold that it is impossible to work outdoors," Mr Newitt said.
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