Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 5/22/85; site cbosgd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!rbg
From: rbg@cbosgd.UUCP (Richard Goldschmidt)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Movement of the poles
Message-ID: <1350@cbosgd.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 22:54:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.1350
Posted: Mon Jul 29 22:54:17 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 04:08:56 EDT
References: <2803@mordor.UUCP> <1250@phoenix.UUCP>
Organization: Columbus Bell Labs, Silver Lining
Lines: 18

In article <1250@phoenix.UUCP>, brent@phoenix.UUCP (Brent Callaghan) writes:
> As far as I know - nutation IS predictable.  There is even a clock
> somewhere with extra dials for years, centuries etc.  The slowest
> movement is the nutation dial.
> Interestingly, the earth is not fixed to it's axis of rotation.
> The north & south poles can move tens of yards every year.
> I've seen a map showing the south pole moving erratically
> (drunken walk) within a radius of 100 yards or so.

An article in the NY Times (p. 11, Sunday, 7/28) states that the north
magnetic pole has moved 70 miles since 1973 and that the south pole has
moved 185 miles in the last 30 years.  The article suggested that changes
in solar activity induced changes in the Earth's magnetic field, affecting
the spin rate, and that the resulting change in angular momentum might have
a dramatic effect on global climate.

Rich Goldschmidt     {ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax,allegra,seismo} !cbosgd!rbg
		     ARPA:  cbosgd!rbg@seismo or cbosgd!rbg@ucbvax