WILJAM FLIGHT TRAINING

Chapter 2.2
Terrestrial Magnetism
Introduction
The Earth is itself a huge magnet and is surrounded by a weak magnetic field that culminates in
two internal magnetic poles situated near the North and South geographic poles. The earth's
magnetic field is similar to that produced at the surface of a short but very powerful bar magnet,
and is why the magnetic poles cover relatively large geographic areas, as the lines of magnetic
force spread out. This is also why the lines of force are horizontal in the vicinity of the equator.
The precise origin of the field is however unknown, but for simplicity the analogy of the bar
magnet at the earth's centre is useful in visualising the general form of the earth's magnetic
field.

The poles are joined together by an imaginary line called a Magnetic Meridian. If a freely
suspended magnetised needle is positioned at various locations within the earth's magnetic
field, it will line itself up with its red pole pointing towards the Earths magnetic North pole,
ie. with respect to magnetic North.
The earth's magnetic field however differs from that of an ordinary magnet in many respects
because the magnetic poles themselves continually alter their position by a small amount. The
magnetic field at any point on the earth's surface is also not constant, because it is subject to
both periodic and irregular changes.

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Magnetic Dip
A freely suspended magnetic needle will settle in a definite direction at any point on the earth's
surface, by aligning itself with the magnetic meridian at that point. It will thus not lie parallel to
the earth's surface at all points, because the earth's lines of magnetic flux (force) are
themselves not horizontal.

The lines of force initially emerge vertically from the South magnetic pole, and then bend over to
become parallel with the earth's surface, before descending vertically at the North magnetic
pole. Thus if a magnetic needle is transported along a meridian from North to South, it will
initially have its red end pointing down towards the earth. Near the magnetic equator the needle
will be horizontal; and at the southern end of its travel the blue end will point towards the earth.
The angle that the lines of force make with the earth's surface at any given place is called the
Angle of Dip and varies from 0 at the magnetic equator, to virtually 90 at the magnetic poles.
Lines drawn on the earths surface joining places of equal dip are known as Isoclinals (BB and
CC), whilst a line joining places having zero dip is known as an Aclinic line (AA). The Aclinic
Line is also the magnetic equator, which is close to the geographical equator, but is not the
same line.

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Isoclinals can also be plotted on charts of the world to show how the magnetic dip varies
worldwide, as shown on the next page.

ACLINIC
LINE

Dip is conventionally positive when the red end of a freely suspended magnetic needle is below
the horizontal and negative when the blue end dips below the horizontal, as shown below.

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Earth's Total Magnetic Force

If a freely suspended magnetic needle comes to rest in the earth's field, it will do so under the
influence of the total force of the earth's magnetic field at that point. The value of this total force
at any given place is not easy to measure, but needs to be known. It is usual, therefore, to
resolve the total force into a horizontal component termed "H" and a vertical component termed
"Z". If the value of angle of dip () for the particular location is then known, the total force (T)
can be readily calculated. Knowledge of the horizontal component "H" and vertical component
"Z" is of considerable practical value, as both are responsible for inducing magnetism into the
various ferrous metal parts of the aeroplane (both hard and soft iron) which lie in their
respective planes. Both components may, therefore, be responsible for providing a deflecting or
deviating force around the aeroplane's compass position, a force whose value must be
determined and calibrated for, if the compass is to provide a worthwhile heading reference. The
relationship between dip, horizontal, vertical and total force is shown below.

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H

This figure shows that "H" is a maximum value at the magnetic equator and decreases in value
towards the poles. Conversely, "Z" is zero at the magnetic equator and, like the value of dip,
increases towards the poles.
Examples
1. If the value of H is 0.22 and the value of Z is 0.44 at a place X, then the angle of dip at this
place will be:Z = 0.44 = 2
Tan Dip = H
0.22

Angle of Dip = Tan-1 2 = 6326

2. If the Angle of Dip = 60 and Z = 0.27, then the values of H and T will be:0.27 = 0.1559
H = TanZ60 = 1.7321

T=

0.27 = 0.27 = 0.3118

0.8660
Sin 60

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Magnetic Variation
In a similar manner, as meridians and parallels are constructed with reference to the geographic
poles, magnetic meridians and parallels may also be plotted with reference to the magnetic
poles. If a map is prepared showing both true and magnetic meridians, the meridians will
intersect each other at angles varying from 0 to 180 at different points on the earth's surface,
as shown below.

Isogonals or Isogonic lines are used on charts to show the amount of variation, and to join all
places on the earths surface having the same angle of variation, whereas a line on the chart
where the variation is nil is called the Agonic line. When the direction of the magnetic meridian
inclines to the left of the true meridian, the variation is said to be west, whilst inclination to the
right of the true meridian is said to be variation east. Variation can change from 0 in areas
where the magnetic meridians run parallel to the true meridian, to 180 in places located
between the true and magnetic north poles. The angle between the true and magnetic
meridians at any place when looking north is known as magnetic variation, an example of which
is shown below.

At some locations on earth, where the ferrous nature of the rock deposits disturbs the earth's
magnetic field, abnormal magnetic anomalies occur, which may cause large changes in the
value of variation over very short distances.

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While variation differs all over the world, it does not maintain a constant value in any one place,
and the following changes, which are not constant in themselves, may occur:

Secular changes which occur over long periods, due to the changing position of the
magnetic poles relative to the true poles.

Annual change, which is a small seasonal fluctuation super-imposed on a secular

change.

Diurnal (daily) changes, which appear to be caused by electrical currents flowing in

the atmosphere as a result of solar heating.

Magnetic storms associated with sunspot activity. These may last from a few hours
to several days, with the intensity varying from very small to very great. The effect
on aeroplane compasses will thus vary with intensity, but both variation and local
values of "H" will be modified whilst the "storm" lasts.

These factors will also have a similar affect on the Angle of Dip.

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Intentionally Left Blank

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