Polar drift

Polar drift

Polar drift is a geological phenomenon caused by variations in the flow of molten iron in Earth's outer core, resulting in changes in the orientation of Earth's magnetic field, and hence the position of the magnetic north pole.

The magnetic north pole is approximately 965 kilometers from the geographic north pole. The pole drifts considerably each day, and moves about 10 to 40 km per year as a result of this phenomenon.

External links

* [http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/img/northpoledrift.gifA map of polar drift over the past 200 years]


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