Kip’s Comments - January 24, 2025

“Oh Kip, It Is Too Early”

During my nearly nightly time of inability to sleep a couple of evenings ago I did some technical reading. The topic of interest was how Earth’s magnetic field had moved “Magnetic North” from a location in Canada toward Siberia and that a formal adjustment to the location was issued by scientists who monitor the continual movement. These adjustments occur about every five years.

What this movement of magnetic north means to me is the declination numbers on my topo maps used for backpacking and wilderness paddling will be incorrect. I suppose I can adjust declination correctly by adding or subtracting the change to the indication printed on the maps.

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For most people, what I have explained likely does not make sense or is irrelevant. But, what do I know…maybe there are others like me who enjoy maps and mapping. I can’t be the only one…am I?

As Kristy and I were laying in bed following my reading, not yet up for the day, my morning announcement to her were the details of the update to the “World Magnetic Model.” Her response… “Oh Kip, it is too early.” With that she got up with no questions about this serious issue.

Between Kristy, our kids, our friends, and even my physical therapist, there seems to be a general consensus that I fit the “Cliff Clavin” model from the TV show Cheers. Cliff knew things most people did not. Cliff knew details few cared about. Cliff likely could have won a trivia or Jeopardy challenge. Apparently reading, understanding, and then considering the impacts of the World Magnetic Model in my personal life puts me in the same category as Cliff Clavin!

Now for something additional learned as I studied my topo maps and their declination markings.

I did not realize that the datum set for my topo maps varies from NAD 27 (early calculations/flat) to WGS 83 - more accurate, with none referencing WGS 84. WGS 84 is used by Google Earth and is the default on many GPS units.

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What does this matter you might ask. If I enter a waypoint with my GPS set to WGS 84 datum and the reference datum for the waypoint was something else, the location of the waypoint may be considerably different from reality. It is important that GPS units match the datum set for written geolocation information. Or, as I do, verify using Google Earth.

Also, I was curious if the update to the World Magnetic Model meant a software update was needed for my handheld GPS units. So far, neither has an update based on the World Magnetic Model adjustment.

Am I sounding like Cliff again?

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