What is magnetic declination?

• A. The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a given location.
• B. The distance between true north and magnetic north.
• C. The angle between magnetic north and magnetic south.
• D. The direction of magnetic north from true north.

Answer: (A)

Magnetic declination is the angular difference between true north (geographic north) and magnetic north at a specific location. It tells you how far, and in which direction, a compass needle points away from geographic north. The Earth's magnetic field shifts over time, so declination varies by place and year. If declination is 10 degrees east, you’d adjust a compass reading 10 degrees toward the east to align with true north. It’s not a distance between poles, and it’s not the 180-degree angle between magnetic north and magnetic south; it’s the measured angle between the two north references, including which direction (east or west) that difference lies.