Tactics and Vectors 98/99
                            Home ] Up ] How to Record Date And Time Of Observation ] How to Identify Common Species of Migratory Butterflies ] Flight Behavior I ] Flight Behavior II ] Flight Behavior III ] Flight Behavior IV ] Flight Behavior V ] Weather Data ] Weather Data ] How To Determine Coordinates of the Exact Location of your Field SiteWhere to find Altitude ] [ Properties of Magnetic Field at Field Site How to Determine Magnetic Declination and Magnetic Inclination ]

Home

Table of  Contents

Great Circle Hypotheis  

Magnetoclinic Hypothesis

Magnetic-Latitude Hypothesis

Compass Bearings Hypothesis

Suns' Azimuth Hypothesis

Expansion-Contraction Hypothesis

Always Advance Hypothesis

Never Go Back Hypothesis

 

 

Properties of Magnetic Field at Field Site

magnetic field

How to Determine Magnetic Declination and Magnetic Inclination

Magnetic Declination (variation)

Magnetic declination is the difference between the True Meridians and the Magnetic Meridians. This difference reflects the tilt of the earths magnetic field in respect to its axis of rotation. Since the magnetic poles and axis of rotation do not exactly coincide, compass needles do not indicate true North at most sites in the northern hemisphere, or true south at most sites in the southern hemisphere. Most Topographic Maps have a pair of arrows that resemble the hands of a clock in the lower left border that indicate the difference between geographic N and magnetic N for the center of the area shown. Aeronautical Charts, available at or near local airports that give flight lessons, show a more complete picture of magnetic declination. The charts show lines of equal magnetic declination called isogonic lines. The isogonic lines are labeled by the number of degrees east or west the magnetic bearing deviates from the true bearing. An isogonic line with a label of 8°E means that a compass bearing taken in the vicinity of the isogonic line will be rotated 8° counterclockwise of the true bearing. Magnetic Bearings can be converted toTrue Bearings by adding easterly declination and by subtracting westerly declination. In our example, the compass bearing is 222°, the declination (variation) is 8°E, and the true bearing is 222 + 8 = 230°.

Magnetic Inclination (dip angle)

Magnetic inclination is the angle that the geomagnetic field is tilted with respect to the surface of the earth. Magnetic inclination varies from 90° (perpendicular to the surface) at the magnetic poles to 0° (parallel to the surface) at the magnetic equator. The alignment and size of the angle of inclination provide vital information for animals that use the geomagnetic field for navigation. Animals that have been studied apparently do not use the N/S polarization of the magnetic field to determine the direction of the poles. Instead of using the N/S polarization, they use the angle of inclination of the magnetic field. In the northern Hemisphere, the acute angle that the magnetic field forms at the surface the earth points towards the North Magnetic Pole. The opposite is true in the southern Hemisphere. Although the animals cannot tell N from S, they can tell the direction of higher and lower latitudes. Furthermore, the magnitude of the angle with respect to the ground provides a rough indication of latitude. For example, the angle of inclination in is about 72° 24' in region of Toronto, Ontario, and 64°0' in the region of Atlanta, Georgia.

It is a bit more difficult to obtain the most current information for magnetic inclination than for magnetic declination. I have a set of 1990 maps and will provide you with the magnetic inclination of you field site if you provide me with latitude and longitude, the name of the nearest city, the county, and the State or Province. Send the information by email (dgibo@credit.erin.utoronto.ca) or by fax (905 828 - 3792). If you would prefer your own charts, you can purchase the appropriate U.S. Geological Survey Maps at the Magnetic Charts page. In addition, there are a number of web sites providing excellent information on the geomagnetic field. Check out the National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder Colorado. Finally, if anyone knows of other sources for the magnetic information, please let me know by email, fax, or by posting to tvectors.