Polar drift
Encyclopedia
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 since 2007 it moves about 55 to 60 km per year as a result of this phenomenon.
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
in Earth's outer core
Outer core
The outer core of the Earth is a liquid layer about 2,266 kilometers thick composed of iron and nickel which lies above the Earth's solid inner core and below its mantle. Its outer boundary lies beneath the Earth's surface...
, resulting in changes in the orientation of Earth's magnetic field
Earth's magnetic field
Earth's magnetic field is the magnetic field that extends from the Earth's inner core to where it meets the solar wind, a stream of energetic particles emanating from the Sun...
, and hence the position of the magnetic north pole.
The magnetic north pole is approximately 965 kilometers from the geographic north pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
. The pole drifts considerably each day, and since 2007 it moves about 55 to 60 km per year as a result of this phenomenon.
