Tactics and Vectors 98/99 |
Compass Bearings Hypothesis Suns' Azimuth Hypothesis Expansion-Contraction Hypothesis Never Go Back Hypothesis
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Properties of Magnetic Field
at Field Site 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. |