Magnetic declination for beginners

[@allenheart582]

Because of the coming micronova, declination is moving much farther, and much faster and so declination information is likely incorrect but there is still a way to recalibrate magnetic declination using the shadow of sticks recording the path of the sun---rotation of the earth has not yet changed. First stick will show East. Mark it with a sharp stick pushed in. After a few minutes you can mark sun shadow travel where the shadow has moved - Push another stick in to mark West. Lay a straight stick from the E mark to the W mark. Geographic north or True North is 90 degrees from the E-W line. With your compass pointing toward True North, note how far off your compass is now. That is your true up-to-date declination. My up-to-date declination is 30 degrees, 15 degrees off from the official declination for my area. More on micronova in my 2nd book, Surviving the Micronova: This Train Is on the Tracks is now available

[@triciarobinson1724]

23 deg ISN'T 23 on the dial its closer to 12 as EACH MARK IS 2 DEG EACH... NOT 1

[@moorejl57]

Nope, the bezel is marked correctly in degrees, only the marks between the numbers jump by two. You will notice that he set it to 20 + 1.5 marks to get the 23 degrees.

[@GurneyGears]

@@moorejl57 Correct!

[@moorejl57]

I found the explanation on how to draw the magnetic grid lines on the map extremely helpful. Why buy an expensive compass with adjustable declination when you can just update the map and have it work for any compass.

[@allenheart582]

Because of the coming micronova, declination is moving much farther, and much faster and so declination information is likely incorrect My up-to-date declination is 30 degrees, 15 degrees off from the official declination for my area. but there is still a way to recalibrate magnetic declination using the shadow of sticks recording the path of the sun---rotation of the earth has not yet changed. First stick will show East. Mark it with a sharp stick pushed in. After a few minutes you can mark sun shadow travel where the shadow has moved - Push another stick in to mark West. Lay a straight stick from the E mark to the W mark. Geographic north or True North is 90 degrees from the E-W line. With your compass pointing toward True North, note how far off your compass is now. That is your true up-to-date declination. More on micronova in my 2nd book, Surviving the Micronova: This Train Is on the Tracks is available now.

[@bronwynmckeage6683]

Or you could adjust the compass if a good one, to the local magnetic declination eg christchurch is different than central otago, so then your compass is exactly aligned and you can use the grid north lines no problem without adding/subtracting and also therefore map does not go out of date with old declination lines drawn over it as long as you know the current decl. degree for your location.

[@BHARATCHAUHAN-cr9zm]

Thanks great help for me from here in Zimbabwe

[@DavidandJanice100]

Good explanation. Very well done. I'm in the US but have visited New Zealand twice, both N. and S Islands. Beautiful county, very nice people!

[@soostrange]

i liked more the first globe.

[@kakeliz]

Thanks for the explanation, this is very helpful.

[@GurneyGears]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bronwynmckeage6683]

Thanks Steve good explanations either way.

[@dreadpirateroberts4052]

After you have drawn the magnetic lines on the map in red ink do you reset the bezel on you compass back to zero degrees or do you leave it at 23 degrees?

[@GurneyGears]

If you've drawn magnetic north lines on your map, there is no longer any need to add and subtract magnetic deviation.(23 degrees in New Zealand) when you're taking bearings with your compass.

[@daisyquintero1209]

Do you 'reset' the bezel to "0"?

[@dreadpirateroberts4052]

I don't know😳

[@GurneyGears]

Kind of.... but you'll be using your bezel to set a bearing. Use the bezel to make a bearing as usual, but there is no need to add or subtract the magnetic deviation. The only time you'll need to set the bezel to zero is when your route / leg is directly north in line with the magnetic north lines you've drawn on your map.

[@mooburns5830]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Coming out from Scotland to do a section of Te Araroa this year and was a wee bit worried about getting this wrong. Such a simple solution. Brilliant. 😎😎😎

[@allenheart582]

Because of the coming micronova, declination is moving much farther, and much faster and so declination information is likely incorrect My up-to-date declination is 30 degrees, 15 degrees off from the official declination for my area. but there is still a way to recalibrate magnetic declination using the shadow of sticks recording the path of the sun---rotation of the earth has not yet changed. First stick will show East. Mark it with a sharp stick pushed in. After a few minutes you can mark sun shadow travel where the shadow has moved - Push another stick in to mark West. Lay a straight stick from the E mark to the W mark. Geographic north or True North is 90 degrees from the E-W line. With your compass pointing toward True North, note how far off your compass is now. That is your true up-to-date declination. More on micronova in my 2nd book, Surviving the Micronova: This Train Is on the Tracks is available now.

[@brianbenedict2975]

The dance ball made my day haha

[@jacegriffin518]

Hi Steve, Do we need to orientate our map first before finding a bearing using a map and lining up the orientating lines? Cause I was wondering, couldn't you just orientate the map to magnetic north meaning the gird north lines on the map would be facing mag north and then take your bearing from there? Then you wouldn't need to draw the mag lines on the map?? Cheers

[@GurneyGears]

Hi Jase. If you're simply finding the bearing using your compass and the map, you don't need to orientate your map to the terrain. But you WILL need to adjust for magnetic deviation. You can adjust for magnetic deviation as i describe in the video, by either subtracting 21 degrees (when going from map to terrain), or by drawing the magnetic north lines onto your map at 21 degrees to the east and line the edge of your compass with these when finding the bearing on your map. As a note, it's always useful to orientate (align your map) with the terrain as a habit; 1/ you may not need to use your compass, 2/ just so your brain finds it easier to recognise what's around. Actually, it sounds like it might be helpful to watch the video again, I carefully made the video in a way to simplify this whole magnetic deviation thing.

[@jacegriffin518]

@@GurneyGears Ok so my idea wouldn't work. Cheers for the quick response.

[@GurneyGears]

​@@jacegriffin518 goops I made a small mistake, in NZ mag declinations 23degrees (not21)

[@GurneyGears]

I've thought a bit more about your question... your idea would not work (good try though), because magnetic north is a force field underneath the earth surface that is off to the side of the North pole (grid north). Watch the first part of the video again where i explain on the inflatable globe.

[@jacegriffin518]

@@GurneyGears Ok thank you

[@ramonpantoja1963]

How far is magnetic north from true or geographic north

[@GurneyGears]

In New Zealand, magnetic north is 23 degrees to the east of true/geographic/grid north.

[@GurneyGears]

Check out the video for a good explanation of why it's 23deg East

[@GK-vj9dz]

drawing the declination compensated lines is a good trick, but it will still be dependent on where you are. it will lock that map to where you are. which, in most cases, won't be a problem. as usual, there are may ways to skin a cat. i've found that the easiest way to adjust for MN is to just know your local declination, then orient the map to that itself. no need to add additional lines to the map grid. you do have to keep that in mind, when taking field bearings, but once you have it down, it's easy. no need for declination adjustments on the bezels, etc. the additional benefits are things like plotting sunrise/sunset degrees, for tent placement, etc. but very succinct explanation. nothing wrong with this, at all. it's just another way to fry an egg. and i've always wanted to travel to new zealand. it's a beautiful place. cheers!