Strange behavior from Earth’s magnetic north pole days before Christmas baffles scientists

NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom — Just days before Christmas, navigation systems worldwide are getting a crucial update thanks to some bizarre behavior from Earth’s magnetic north pole. For the first time in recorded history, the pole has dramatically changed its speed – a shift that could affect everything from smartphone GPS to Santa’s delivery route.

“The current behavior of magnetic north is something that we have never observed before,” says Dr. William Brown, a geomagnetic field modeler at the British Geological Survey, in a media release. “Magnetic north has been moving slowly around Canada since the 1500s but, in the past 20 years, it accelerated towards Siberia, increasing in speed every year until about five years ago, when it suddenly decelerated from 50 to 35 km per year, which is the biggest deceleration in speed we’ve ever seen.”

To address this unprecedented change, BGS and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have released an updated World Magnetic Model (WMM) – the standard navigation tool used by governments, militaries, and civilian systems worldwide. This year’s update includes a groundbreaking high-resolution version that can pinpoint magnetic variations within 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) at the equator, compared to the previous 3,300-kilometer resolution.

The stakes are high for accurate navigation. Without the update, a journey from South Africa to the United Kingdom could end up 150 kilometers (93.2 miles) off course – a significant problem for commercial airlines and especially challenging for a certain North Pole resident with tight Christmas Eve deadlines.

The magnetic north pole’s location affects compass readings and, by extension, GPS systems in phones, ships, and aircraft. This natural phenomenon is driven by the movement of liquid iron in Earth’s outer core, making it essential for navigation systems to account for these shifts.

The new model will be used by organizations including NATO, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the UK Ministry of Defence, ensuring safe and accurate global navigation for the next five years. For everyday users, the update means your smartphone’s GPS will continue guiding you accurately – whether you’re heading to the grocery store or down a chimney.