Mapping the North Magnetic Pole's Shift Over 400 Years: Hashem Al-Ghaili

The North Magnetic Pole, the point where Earth's geomagnetic field is vertical, has been steadily shifting for centuries. A historical mapping of its movement from 1640 to 2020 reveals a gradual northwest trajectory in more recent centuries, primarily toward Siberia.

This shift has significantly accelerated in the past century, with the pole rapidly approaching Russia.

The movement is influenced by changes in the dynamics of Earth's molten iron core, which generates the planet's magnetic field. 

Unlike fixed geographical poles, the North Magnetic Pole's position fluctuates daily within an oval-shaped locus due to geomagnetic variations.

To create maps like these, scientists use historical data from magnetic measurements taken at various locations over centuries, including records from old compass readings, volcanic rock samples, and recent satellite observations.