Magnetic Declination Explained | Your Compass Needle Does NOT Point North!

We introduce Magnetic Declination, and explain how to handle it in wilderness navigation. We also discuss map projections and "grid north."
Correction at 3:42: "Subtract the declination if the declination is East..."
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0:00 Magnetic Declination
0:46 Setting Declination on a Compass
1:30 Grid North/Map Projections Interlude
2:42 Setting Declination on a Compass (part 2)
3:29 Manually Compensating for Declination
4:13 DIY Orienting Arrow
4:39 Recap
#navigation #wilderness #compass #map #bushcraft #survival #camping #outdoors #getoutside #sailing #hiking #backpacking #educational #earthscience #geodesy #trending #viral

[@thetautline]

CORRECTION at 3:42: Should say "Subtract the declination if the *declination* is East..."

[@gee6607]

Very informative video

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

I have a small Swedish compass I bought in a second hand store here in Brasil. I believe it is 60 years old or more. It has a dial with degree markings engraved that can be spinned and a ruler to use it with maps. It cost me less then $2. I also use a Garmin GPS device as a compass too. Regadless, I will buy a better compass. The best video on the subject I've seen so far. Thanks.

[@Geri-der-Kletterer]

Thank you very much. I finally understood it

[@fred9za]

Thank you for making this video but I cant fathom why and HOW in the great makers name are you the ONLY video ON YOU TUBE that explains about removing grid declination from magnetic declination to increase precision as my calculations for my area went from adjusting 25.47 to 24.17 that is over a full degree ! I understand that most compasses only have a accuracy of about 2 degrees but still the fewer errors we start with the better we can navigate just my point of view.

[@stevemulholland1532]

Nice video except for the declination math error. I think you should redo that segment and post a revised video.

[@grinfacelaxu]

NICE!

[@MRboomchongo]

How does a magnetic center move on a ball?

[@westonsmith4572]

Unfortunately, the central information in this video - starts at about 3:41 is backwards - for instance, West Declination, map to compass, we should add the declination.

[@thetautline]

Indeed! Sorry about that, I mention it in the description.

[@duane356]

"west is best, east is least" ... sometimes, lol

[@huntingfishingcamping7179]

I did not quite understand. I have 7 degrees deviation. how do I mark them on the compass if it's hard to imagine on the compass scale. I need to mark 7 degrees east from the magnetic pointer. I can not.

[@monfatouo]

Aquí en mexico, este tipos de brújulas presentan un fallo después de comprarla aproximadamente en 3 meses se presenta una burbuja en la capsula no permitiendo el movimiento de la ajuga o impidiendo el movimiento de esta fui al servicio técnico de aquí en mexico suunto mexico la cual no se hace responsable de este fallo y te alienta que compres otra bujula de otra marca mejor. triste pero cierto no te dejes estafar por esta marca.

[@drkirkslagel874]

Nice video, however you need more and better practical examples for it to make sense to the newbie.

[@raymundowellington6592]

what proof is there to say the magnetic North shifts over time when all records say otherwise?

[@rodrodinal6818]

Sorry, but the needle does NOT point to the magnetic north pole. It is aligned with the magnetic field at the location you are in. Unfortunately, this is a mistake that many people make.

[@Born.To.Explore]

The entire part about manually compensating for declination is completely wrong.

[@hazarddavid6987]

Mehhh...

[@user-fk8rb8ue5h]

Why keep things simple when you can make them complicated in the real world when you're only looking about a kilometre away, declination don't really come into it

[@sam-xq2jw]

Yes it is very important especially for pilots

[@PaulHVAC1]

Actually you have it wrong. If you take a bearing on a map and then go out in the field using your compass ( magnetic bearing) then if your declination is west you add or if your east then you subtract. I cannot believe you wouldn’t know this and yet you put out a so called information video