Subject: is the magnetic north pole painting itself into a corner
Date: Dec 21, 2000 @ 04:58
Author: michael donner (michael donner <m@...>)
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when the magnetic north pole was reached for the first time in 1831
its geoposition was found to be about n lat 70 & w long 97

during the balance of the 19th century it scarcely changed position

but thruout the 20th century it has drifted fairly steadily northwest at an
average rate of about 10km per year

as a result its position has moved about 10 degrees west & 10 degrees north
to roughly 80n x 107w now
& unless it alters its rate of speed or its bearing significantly
which it has actually shown no inclination of doing lately
it may continue to spiral toward the geographic north pole
& approach or even arrive at 90n in only another century or so
as it simultaneously approaches 117w

if it does actually reach lat 90n it will necessarily lose its longitude
as well as its bearing
tho not necessarily its rate of progression as expressed in km per year

but then what will it be doing & where will it be going from there

just wondering
m