The Magnetic North Pole Has Officially Changed Position
The magnetic North Pole has officially shifted its position, moving further away from Canada and closer to Siberia, as reflected in the updated 2025 World Magnetic Model (WMM).
Created every five years by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the British Geological Survey (BGS), the WMM provides crucial updates for navigation systems on ships, planes, and GPS devices.
This movement is driven by Earth’s dynamic core, particularly two massive magnetic lobes beneath Canada and Siberia. The updated WMM includes a higher-resolution map with 10 times more detail, ensuring accurate navigation for the next five years. For example, traveling 8,500 km using the old model could result in a 150 km navigation error. Thankfully, updates to personal devices and GPS systems will occur automatically. Magnetic north, first identified in 1831 by Sir James Clark Ross, continues to remind us of the Earth’s ever-changing nature.
This movement is driven by Earth’s dynamic core, particularly two massive magnetic lobes beneath Canada and Siberia. The updated WMM includes a higher resolution map with 10 times more detail, ensuring accurate navigation for the next five years.
For example, traveling 8,500 km using the old model could result in a 150 km navigation error. Thankfully, updates to personal devices and GPS systems will occur automatically. Magnetic north, first identified in 1831 by Sir James Clark Ross, continues to remind us of the Earth’s ever-changing nature.
Image: NOAA
