magnetic declination

n. The angle between magnetic north and true north at a particular location. Also called magnetic variation.

magnetic declination

n (Navigation) the angle that a compass needle makes with the direction of the geographical north pole at any given point on the earth's surface. Also called: declination or magnetic variation

magnetic declination

The horizontal angle between the true geographic North Pole and the magnetic north pole, as figured from a specific point on the Earth.

magnetic declination

The angle between the magnetic and geographical meridians at any place, expressed in degrees east or west to indicate the direction of magnetic north from true north. In nautical and aeronautical navigation, the term magnetic variation is used instead of magnetic declination and the angle is termed variation of the compass or magnetic variation. Magnetic declination is not otherwise synonymous with magnetic variation which refers to regular or irregular change with time of the magnetic declination, dip, or intensity. See also magnetic variation.

Thesaurus

Noun

magnetic declination - the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true northmagnetic variation, variationangle - the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians

magnetic declination

[mag′ned·ik ‚dek·lə′nā·shən] (astronomy) declination

Declination, Magnetic

(D), the angle between the magnetic and the true (geographic) meridians at a given point on the earth’s surface. The direction of the true meridian is usually determined with a gyroscopic theodolite or by astronomical observations. The direction of the magnetic meridian is found with the aid of instruments, such as magnetic declinometers and magnetometers, that make it possible to determine the position of a magnetic needle at the measurement site. If the north end of the magnetic needle is deflected to the east of the direction of the true meridian, the magnetic declination is called east, or positive; if it is deflected to the west, the magnetic declination is called west, or negative.

Magnetic declination is widely used in navigation, in geodetic and mine surveying, and in military work. Lines on a map connecting points with equal values of magnetic declination are called isoclinic lines. Since magnetic declination does not remain constant over long periods of time but undergoes slow changes, maps of magnetic declination are periodically revised based on measurements repeated every five to six years.

IU. A. BURTSEV

magnetic declination

At a particular location, the horizontal angle between true meridian (true north-south line) and magnetic meridian (direction of compass needle).

magnetic declination

The angle between the magnetic and geographical meridians at any place, expressed in degrees east or west to indicate the direction of magnetic north from true north. Also called a magnetic variation.

magnetic declination

magnetic declination

magnetic declination

magnetic declination

magnetic declination

magnetic declination

magnetic declination

Declination, Magnetic

magnetic declination

magnetic declination

magnetic declination

Synonyms for magnetic declination

noun the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true north

Synonyms

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