Scientists are surprised: the magnetic North Pole, which attracts the needles of compasses, moves. We already knew it, but it does it much faster than expected. So much so that the United States has requested an emergency meeting to update the templates. Knowing and pinpointing the magnetic pole is essential for navigation in these areas.
A century ago, he was still in Canada, he is now in the Arctic Ocean, and he is likely to end up in Russia soon. The North Magnetic Pole is moving as it has always done, but more and more quickly: 50 km per year is 5 times faster than a hundred years ago.
To understand, we must dig 3000 km underground, where the core of our planet is. A ball of molten metal that turns very fast on itself and which, like a dynamo, generates a magnetic field.
This field comes out of the ground at the magnetic poles and as the activity of the nucleus is not a long calm river, these poles tend to move.
It is a well understood phenomenon, which does not prevent to be surprised by the acceleration of this displacement and even a little worried. Not because of possible risks, but because this magnetic North Pole is used for maritime navigation in this region, whether civilian or military.
It is for this reason that the United States has asked to advance for one year an international meeting organized to update the models. It should take place by the end of the month.