Magnetic Declination Calculator Canada

Magnetic Declination Model:

\[ decl = model\_calc(lat, lon, date) \]

Magnetic Declination:

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1. What is Magnetic Declination?

Magnetic declination is the angle between magnetic north (the direction the compass needle points) and true north (the direction along the Earth's surface towards the geographic North Pole). This angle varies depending on your location and changes over time.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the current magnetic model for Canada:

\[ decl = model\_calc(lat, lon, date) \]

Where:

\( lat \) — Latitude in decimal degrees (positive north, negative south)
\( lon \) — Longitude in decimal degrees (positive east, negative west)
\( date \) — Date of measurement (important as declination changes over time)

Explanation: The model accounts for spatial and temporal variations in Earth's magnetic field to provide accurate declination values.

3. Importance of Magnetic Declination

Details: Accurate declination values are crucial for navigation, surveying, and any application requiring precise direction measurements. Ignoring declination can lead to significant navigation errors.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter latitude (-90 to 90), longitude (-180 to 180), and date. For best results, use coordinates accurate to at least 4 decimal places.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How often does magnetic declination change?
A: Declination changes gradually over time, typically a few minutes per year, but this varies by location.

Q2: Why is declination different in Canada?
A: Canada's northern location means it's closer to the magnetic north pole, resulting in larger declination values than equatorial regions.

Q3: When is declination most important?
A: Critical for precise navigation, especially in wilderness areas, aviation, and marine navigation where small angular errors can lead to large positional errors over distance.

Q4: How accurate is this calculator?
A: Accuracy depends on the underlying magnetic model, but typically within 0.5 degrees for recent dates.

Q5: Does altitude affect magnetic declination?
A: For most practical purposes, no - declination is primarily a function of horizontal position and date.