posted on May, 14 2003 @ 08:11 PM
North Pole on the Move
13-May-2003
The magnetic North Pole is leaving Canada and will eventually wind up in Russia. Larry Newitt, of the Geological Survey of Canada, says, "Although it
has been moving north or northwest for a hundred years, it is not going to continue in that direction forever. Its speed has increased considerably
during the past 25 years, and it could just as easily decrease a few years from now."
The Earth's magnetic field comes from its outer core, and is produced by the movement of molten iron 1,850 miles below the surface. It's also
influenced by charged particles from the sun. The magnetic North Pole is different from the geographic North Pole, which is a fixed point on the
planet. The magnetic pole is currently 600 miles from the geographic one.
Because the magnetic pole is in the Arctic Ocean right now, scientists have to wait for the right time of year to study it. "We always do this kind
of work in May. We need frozen conditions so that we can land an airplane anywhere on ice or snow, but not so cold that it is impossible to work
outdoors," Newitt says.
It�s a short plane ride away from Resolute Bay, one of Canada's most northerly settlements. Its 200 residents like to wear a T-shirt that says,
"Resolute is not the end of the world, but you can see it from here."
Despite its remote location, tourists come to Resolute who want to visit the North Pole. In 1984, Newitt was approached by a newlywed couple. He says,
"When they heard we were going to the pole they asked if they could hitch a ride. When asked why they wanted to go there, they replied that they
wanted to conceive their child there."
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