Scientists have released an updated model of the Earth’s magnetic field, a crucial step to maintain the accuracy of navigation systems worldwide. The World Magnetic Model 2025 (WMM2025), developed by NOAA and the British Geological Survey, accounts for the significant and ongoing shift of the magnetic north pole-a phenomenon impacting everything from airline routes to smartphone maps. This latest iteration includes a high-resolution component,improving navigational precision,particularly in the arctic and Antarctic regions.
The Earth’s magnetic north pole has shifted significantly, prompting scientists to update the World Magnetic Model 2025 (WMM2025).
Developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in collaboration with the British Geological Survey, the model is a crucial reference for air and sea navigation, as well as the operation of global positioning systems and the digital compasses found in millions of devices. Accurate magnetic modeling is increasingly important as our reliance on location-based technologies grows.
Currently, compasses point closer to Siberia than to the Canadian Arctic, having traveled over 1,300 miles (2,200 kilometers) from its first official identification in 1831.
While the movement of the magnetic pole is a known natural phenomenon, recent decades have shown notable variations in both its direction and speed.
One of the most recent observations capturing the attention of specialists is a slowdown in its rate of movement. After traveling at a rate of 30 to 37 miles (50 to 60 kilometers) per year for years, the magnetic north pole has slowed to approximately 22 miles (35 kilometers) per year. Experts are calling this “the largest slowdown recorded,” a gradual change that nonetheless has significant technical implications.
Unlike the geographic north pole, which marks the planet’s axis of rotation and remains fixed, the magnetic north pole is not stationary. It’s the point toward which compasses align, and its position constantly changes due to movements of liquid iron in the Earth’s outer core. This process generates the Earth’s magnetic field, an invisible and massive shield that protects the planet from harmful solar radiation and has enabled compass-based orientation for millennia.
Since its discovery in the 19th century, the location of the magnetic pole has been periodically reviewed using scientific models that integrate satellite data, ground measurements, and geophysical studies. The initial acceleration and subsequent deceleration of its movement have generated growing interest within the international scientific community.
The World Magnetic Model is published every five years and serves as the official reference used by governments, armed forces, and technology companies worldwide. The WMM2025 version, released in December 2024, will be valid until the end of 2029, unless abrupt and unexpected changes occur in the Earth’s magnetic field. Its applications are extensive, supporting civil aviation, commercial and military navies, submarine navigation systems, and international organizations like NATO and the International Hydrographic Organization.
A key addition to this update is the introduction of a high-resolution (HR) version, known as WMMHR2025. This improvement increases the model’s accuracy from approximately 2,000 miles to about 186 miles (3,300 to 300 kilometers) at the equator, significantly optimizing route calculations in complex areas, particularly in polar regions. For everyday travel, such as commuting or typical cell phone use, the impact of the magnetic pole’s movement is practically imperceptible.
However, on long journeys and in sensitive environments—like transcontinental flights or oceanic and polar navigation—an outdated model can lead to errors of several dozen miles from the planned route, with potentially critical consequences. Finally, WMM2025 updates information regarding “magnetic anomaly zones” near the poles, regions where the behavior of the magnetic field compromises the reliability of compasses. This information is vital for planning polar air routes and for scientific missions that depend on high-precision and safe magnetic navigation.
