The magnetic North pole is shaking

The magnetic North pole behaves strangely: He has moved from Northern Canada, in the meantime, into the Arctic ocean. Thus, there are irregularities in navigation devices, especially in high latitudes. The Update of the "World Magnetic Model", a map of the earth's magnetic field, however, have to wait - because of the Shutdowns in the United States. the Tobias Kühn

In the Wake of the us Government shutdown will not have to wait only employees in the public service on your salary. Also, the magnetic field of the earth is sentenced to a standstill. The upcoming update of the so-called World Magnetic Model, a kind of world map of the earth's magnetic field, has been postponed, as the competent National ocean and Atmosphere Agency NOAA is affected by the Shutdown.

The new Version of the model will now be at the earliest on 30. January will be held as scheduled this week released. The World Magnetic Model indicates the direction and strength of the earth's magnetic field at any point on the earth. More recently, users in the Arctic had noticed the irregularities, the experts on the strange behavior of the magnetic North pole. This was a long time in Northern Canada, migrates, however, and is currently in the Arctic sea near the geographic North pole.

Magnetic "tug of war" to the North pole

The earth's magnetism is mainly caused by Currents of molten iron beneath the earth's crust, which change over time. Most of the navigation systems, for example Google Maps, are based on the World Magnetic Model. Therefore, it should describe reality exactly what makes in the rule, every five years a Neukartierung necessary. For this purpose, the US-American oceanic and atmospheric authority, together with the British Geological Survey measurements of the earth's magnetic field from satellites and observatories on the earth. Hydrodynamic model calculations of the movements in the earth's interior result in predictions for the future development of the earth's magnetic field.

Shortly after the most recent regular Neukartierung of terrestrial magnetism in the year 2015, there was, however, a geomagnetic rash under South America, which was not predicted by model calculations predict. In addition, the magnetic North pole moves. Why, is not yet fully understood. Geophysicist Phil Livermore, University of Leeds, is suspected to be behind the phenomenon of the wandering Pole, and two magnetic spots, respectively, under Siberia, and Canada. This held a "tug of war" to the magnetic North pole. "The Siberian spot wins the competition," said Livermore at a meeting of the American Geophysical society.

most Smartphones are very likely still at the old Stand

Due to these irregularities, the reality deviates from the forecasts. In March of last year, users reported in the Arctic from inaccuracies in the Navigation. Then, a unscheduled Update was provided. The data by British geologists since last September, in raw Form. The Software, which facilitates application in everyday life, but is supplied by their American counterparts - because of the government pause, the too late now. Most Smartphones, for example, are therefore very likely still on the old Stand, Will says Brown, Geomagnetism expert from the British Geological Survey.

This is not to say, however, that due to the delay in navigation systems currently in the mislead. The deviations were in the inhabited areas under one degree in the Arctic, the uncertainty of the World Magnetic Model could be a Problem, says Brown. Moreover, there is except for the World Magnetic Model is even more mapping of the earth's magnetic field, says Foteini Vervelidou from the German research centre for Geosciences in Potsdam. She is part of Team that developed the "International Geomagnetic Reference Field", which is also used for commercial purposes. This mapping is updated every five years; here no but on an unscheduled update. Is it for the World Magnetic Model until the next regular Update by the end of 2019. It is to be hoped that the National ocean and Atmosphere Agency will then be able to act - currently your site is not reachable: Shutdown.