What factor disturbs the compass in Northern Domestic Airspace?

What factor disturbs the compass in Northern Domestic Airspace?

• A. Weather phenomena
• B. High altitude
• C. Close proximity to the north magnetic pole
• D. Metallic structures nearby

Answer: (C)

Magnetic compasses rely on the horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic field to point toward magnetic north. In the far north, near the north magnetic pole, the field is highly inclined and the horizontal component becomes very weak, so the needle can wander or snap toward the pole, making readings unreliable. This strong, large-scale magnetic disturbance is the main reason the compass is disturbed in Northern Domestic Airspace. Weather phenomena or altitude don’t directly disrupt the compass in the same consistent way, and nearby metallic structures can cause local anomalies, but the dominant factor here is proximity to the magnetic pole.

Magnetic compasses rely on the horizontal component of Earth’s magnetic field to point toward magnetic north. In the far north, near the north magnetic pole, the field is highly inclined and the horizontal component becomes very weak, so the needle can wander or snap toward the pole, making readings unreliable. This strong, large-scale magnetic disturbance is the main reason the compass is disturbed in Northern Domestic Airspace. Weather phenomena or altitude don’t directly disrupt the compass in the same consistent way, and nearby metallic structures can cause local anomalies, but the dominant factor here is proximity to the magnetic pole.