The geographic North and South Poles are the points representing the earth's axis and about which it rotates. The Geomagnetic Poles are the points where the earth's magnetic lines of force converge. The north and south geomagnetic poles are both some distance from the geographic poles.
The basic difference is that geographical north is static and the magnetic north is in constant motion, the magnetic field extends into the atmosphere and for lack of a better word is kind of like the wind. See the link below WikiAnswers has some good information on this.
The Earth's magnetic field is not aligned precisely with the Earth's physical axis of rotation. In fact, it's off by quite a bit, and it moves.
Presently (in 2009) the North Magnetic Pole of the Earth is located in northern Canada, and moving slowly to the west. If you examine navigational maps, you'll notice that the maps contain lines of magnetic variation - the angle of difference between true north and magnetic north. In northern California, the "mag var" is around 18 degrees.
The Earth's rotational north pole (actually called the "geographical north pole") is related to Earth's rotation - it is the northernmost part of Earth's rotational axis.
The magnetic north pole is related to Earth's magnetism; this is not exactly aligned with Earth's rotation. Therefore, the magnetic compass (the most common type of compass) will show approximately to the north (in most parts of Earth), but not exactly so.
Real north and geographical north are the same thing. True north and magnetic north are different. The North Pole is at the top center and magnetic north is a little off.
No it is not.
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magnetic variation
It is magnetic north (not geographical north), which is the north on a magnetic compass.
Magnetic north (not geographical north)
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An ordinary magnetic compass points to magnetic north, not to true north. If the difference between the two directions is large and not accounted for, you can get lost.
the magnetic north pole moves while the geographic north pole stays in the same place
magnetic variation
It is magnetic north (not geographical north), which is the north on a magnetic compass.
magnetic variation
Magnetic declination or variation.
It will be 180 degrees in any position between the north magnetic pole and the geographical north pole and similar at the south pole
That's the "magnetic declination". Since the true north pole and the magnetic north pole are located at different points on the earth, the declination is a different angle in different places on earth.
It is measured exactly the same in the Southern hemisphere (no difference between the two hemispheres). It is the difference between magnetic north and true north and it varies all over the globe. Magnetic declination (also called magnetic variation) is positive when magnetic north is east of true north (clockwise) and it is negative when magnetic north is west of true north (anti-clockwise).
Magnetic north (not geographical north)
Since the Earth's magnetic poles are not located at the geographic poles, a magnetic compass doesn't point to 'true' (geographic) north. The DIFFERENCE angle between magnetic north and true north is the magnetic variation or declination where you are. It changes for different locations.
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Assuming the subject is magnetic declination the difference between the north pole and the true north pole this difference, is the magnetic declination, there is not information on what purpose it serves.