IIG study: north magnetic pole's drift to Siberia stops particles diving deeper
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism found that the north magnetic pole's drift from Canada towards Siberia has raised the penetration altitudes of charged particles over Siberia, DST reported on 29 January 2025.
Summary
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), an autonomous institute of DST, found that the drift of Earth's north magnetic pole from Canada towards Siberia has changed how deep energetic charged particles penetrate the atmosphere, DST reported on 29 January 2025. The IIG team simulated relativistic test particles using the IGRF-13 model and found that, with a stronger field over Siberia by 2020, the lowest altitudes some particles could reach rose by 400 to 1,200 km over Siberia. The north magnetic pole stayed in Canada till 1990 and was moving at about 50 km per year by 2020; the study appeared in Advances in Space Research.
Key facts
- Reported
- 29 January 2025
- Institute
- Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (DST)
- Model
- IGRF-13
- Finding
- Penetration altitudes over Siberia up by 400–1,200 km
- Pole drift
- ~50 km/year by 2020
- Journal
- Advances in Space Research
Practice MCQs 1 questions
According to a study by the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism reported in January 2025, the north magnetic pole has been drifting from:
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Canada towards Siberia
PIB 2097391: the north magnetic pole, which was in Canada till 1990, has drifted towards Siberia, moving at about 50 km per year by 2020.