What are magnetic variations?

Magnetic declination, sometimes called magnetic variation, is the angle between magnetic north and true north. Declination is positive east of true north and negative when west. Magnetic declination changes over time and with location.

What causes magnetic variation?

Magnetic declination is caused by the complex shape of the Earth’s magnetic field. Magnetic declination refers to the use of a compass with its needle…

What is magnetic variation in navigation?

Magnetic declination, or magnetic variation, is the angle on the horizontal plane between magnetic north (the direction the north end of a magnetized compass needle points, corresponding to the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field lines) and true north (the direction along a meridian towards the geographic North …

Why is magnetic variation important?

Your compass contains a magnetic needle which points to Magnetic North. This movement is unpredictable so if your map is old the information on it may not be correct; it is therefore important to research the magnetic variation for the area you are visiting before you set off.

What is the difference between magnetic variation and declination?

“Magnetic north” is the point on the Earth’s surface where its magnetic field points directly downwards. Magnetic north does not exactly coincide with true north, and its location changes over time. The difference between Magnetic North and True North is called “Declination” or “Variation”.

What is the difference between magnetic variation and magnetic deviation?

The difference between true north and magnetic north is called magnetic declination or magnetic variation. Some sources also erroneously refer to it as magnetic deviation. It’s essential to take this phenomenon into account when navigating with a compass.

How do you use magnetic variation?

Variation is the difference in degrees and minutes between True North on the chart you are looking at and Magnetic North at that place at a given time. You can then apply the rate of variation every year to find variation at that location in any given year.

How magnetic variation affects a ship’s navigation?

Deviation is caused by the interaction between the boats and the earths magnetic field. As the boat changes direction the the interference between the magnetic fields deflect the ships compass needle away from the magnetic north pole and is called deviation.

What is magnetic variation?

Magnetic declination. Magnetic declination, or magnetic variation, is the angle on the horizontal plane between magnetic north (the direction the north end of a compass needle points, corresponding to the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field lines) and true north (the direction along a meridian towards…

What is magnetic variance?

Magnetic declination, or magnetic variation, is the angle on the horizontal plane between magnetic north (the direction the north end of a compass needle points, corresponding to the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field lines) and true north (the direction along a meridian towards the geographic North Pole).

What is magnetic deviation?

Magnetic deviation is the error induced in a compass by local magnetic fields, which must be allowed for, along with magnetic declination, if accurate bearings are to be calculated. (More loosely, “magnetic deviation” is used by some to mean the same as “magnetic declination”.

What is my magnetic declination?

Magnetic declination is the angle between magnetic north (the direction the north end of a compass needle points) and true north. The declination is positive when the magnetic north is east of true north. Magnetic inclination is the angle made by a compass needle when the compass is held in a vertical orientation.