magnetic declination

British  

noun

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

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magnetic declination Scientific  

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

2. Compare magnetic inclination

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Example Sentences

Now, here is what we know with most certainty as to the magnetic declination of Paris at the epoch in question: Years.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 810, July 11, 1891 by Various

A time-shot was successful, and observations were also taken for magnetic declination.

From The Home of the Blizzard Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914 by Mawson, Douglas, Sir

This can be approximately obtained by a good compass, and allowance made for the magnetic declination at your own place.

From The Boy Mechanic: Volume 1 700 Things for Boys to Do by Popular Mechanics Co.

In 1851 Lament, a Scotchman at Munich, found a decennial period in the daily range of magnetic declination.

From History of Astronomy by Forbes, George

He has further applied the method to the study of the variations of the magnetic declination, and of sun-spot records.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 8 "Haller, Albrecht" to "Harmonium" by Various