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Deviation and Variation

True north refers to the Earth's axis of rotation and is the basis for lines of latitude and longitude. Magnetic north is shown on compasses and is determined by the Earth's magnetic field, about 1500km from true north currently. Grid north varies from true north on maps due to map projections. Deviation is error caused by nearby magnetic objects influencing the compass, while variation or declination is the difference between true and magnetic north due to the Earth's magnetic field. Variation changes depending on location and over time.

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85 views

Deviation and Variation

True north refers to the Earth's axis of rotation and is the basis for lines of latitude and longitude. Magnetic north is shown on compasses and is determined by the Earth's magnetic field, about 1500km from true north currently. Grid north varies from true north on maps due to map projections. Deviation is error caused by nearby magnetic objects influencing the compass, while variation or declination is the difference between true and magnetic north due to the Earth's magnetic field. Variation changes depending on location and over time.

Uploaded by

jaber hasan talal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Deviation and variation

Compass Deviation and Variation


The three Norths
Here are three terms frequently encountered when using compasses to find
bearings for navigation. Are you clear what each one means? And what about the
three norths, too?

True north (Geographic north) is the location of the earth's axis of rotation and is
the basis for lines of latitude and longitude (90°N, where all meridians of
longitude intersect).

Magnetic north is the north direction shown on a compass determined by the


earth's internal magnetic field. The true north pole and the magnetic north pole
are currently about 1500km apart and magnetic north shifts with time. The
compass rose on older charts will therefore have a magnetic compass for that
time period which is unlikely to be reflective of the current variation.

Grid north is the north direction taken from grid lines on a map or chart. These
vary from exactly true north-south lines due to curvature of the earth's surface
and the effect of representing this curvature as a flat surface.

Deviation
Deviation is the error in reading a bearing from the compass caused by the
magnetic influence of some nearby object, such as a metal post or an engine. In
the case of boats it may even be due to the materials from which the boat is
constructed. Electric currents close to the compass may create a magnetic effect.
To avoid this type of error the compass should be kept away from all such
influences. Most boats have some measure of deviation which should be
minimised by careful mounting of the compass. Deviation changes each time the
boat alters course. There are people skilled in compass adjustment who can issue
a card for a particular compass with deviations listed for changes in direction. This
is particularly important for headings where a significant deviation exists.

Variation (also known as Declination)


This is the error caused by the earth's magnetic field. For a magnetic compass, the
needle will point towards magnetic north rather than true north. Depending on
where you are on the earth's surface this difference may be as much as 30°.
Variation may be to east or west of true north, again depending on where you are
on the earth's surface. Variation also changes as time progresses (as the magnetic
north pole changes position). This information is always shown on maps and
charts (usually in the compass rose) with a base year and a statement to say
'increasing x each year'.

A good exercise is to look at a chart, locate this information and calculate the
current variation for the chart you have in hand. A well known rhyme by which to
remember how to apply variation (declination) is:

Variation east, compass least


Variation west, compass best

Did you Know?

 A compass needle will experience 'dip' (also known as


magnetic inclination) due to the spherical shape of the earth.
At the equator the lines of magnetic force will be almost
parallel to the earth's surface but as you move towards the
poles they will be increasingly angled toward the surface
giving the compass needle more 'dip'. In theory at the centre
of the poles (north or south) the lines of magnetic force
should be exactly perpendicular to the earth's surface. In
reality what happens to the compass needle is that it
becomes unstable, wanting to dip a great deal but unable to
do so.
 Compasses are specific and pre-set for whichever
hemisphere they are to be used in. This is because the
needle 'dips' in an opposite direction in the northern
hemisphere (head down) to that in the southern hemisphere
(tail down). 

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