I.

MAGNETIC DECLINATION
A. Magnetic Poles
- Are not points but oval areas located about 2000 km away from the actual
location of the geographic poles of the earth. These areas are not fixed and may
move to a different location everyday perhaps as far as 50 km.
- Since the compass needle normally points towards the direction of the magnetic
poles, it will be expected that the magnetic meridian and the true meridian will
not be parallel to each other.
B. Magnetic Declination
- The horizontal angle and direction by which the needle of a compass deflects
from the true meridian at any particular locality.
- Deflection of the needle may be eastward or westward of the true meridian. The
deflection of the needle at one place may be considerably different from that at
a place just few kilometers away.
- At a particular location the declination does not remain constant but also varies
with time.
- The declination at a given location on any date can be obtained by establishing
a true meridian from astronomical observations and then reading the compass
while sighting along the true meridian. The difference between the observed
compass reading and the established true meridian should give the declination.
- The declination may be established with sufficient precision from an isogonic
chart or by sighting with a compass along a line whose bearing has previously
established and noting the difference from the observed magnetic bearing.

II. VARIATIONS IN MAGNETIC DECLINATION

- The changes in direction of the magnetic meridian at a given place is not
constant. It is subject to cyclic fluctuations which vary over certain period of
time.
A. Daily Variation
- Also called diurnal variation, is a oscillation of the compass needle through a
cycle from its mean position over a 24-hour period.
- The extreme eastern position of the needle usually occurs early in the morning
and the extreme western pointing occurring just about after noon time. The
amount of this variation ranges from a fraction of a minute to about 15 minutes
at different places
- Daily variation is greater in higher latitudes than near the equator, and the
direction of swing is opposite in both hemispheres.
- The swing of the needle has been observed to be more in summer the in winter
at the same place.
- Since the magnitude of daily variations is small in comparison to the
inaccuracies with which the magnetic compass can read, it is usually neglected
when observing magnetic direction.
 B. Annual Variation
- Another form of periodic swing taken by the magnetic meridian with respect to
the true meridian. It usually amounts to only less than one minute of arc and
thus considered negligible.
C. Secular Variation
- Is a slow, gradual but unexplainable shift in the position of the earth’s magnetic
meridian over a regular cycle.
- The meridian swing s like a pendulum in one direction for about 150 years and
gradually comes to a stop and then swings back in the opposite direction. The
rate of change in declination varies yearly and irregularly at different locations
and can be very large amount.
- The secular variation is important to the surveyor because of its magnitude. It
s considered when checking or retracing old survey lines whose directions
where established with a magnetic compass.
- Its nature, behavior, and magnitude can be described only by means of tables
and charts derived from observation at various places worldwide which were
made in the past.
D. Irregular Variation
- This type of variation is uncertain in character and cannot be predicted as to
amount or occurrence. At high altitudes they usually amount to a degree or
more.
- Irregular variations are most likely to occur during magnetic storms and
disturbances associated with sunspots, and when auroral displays occur.

III. ISOGONIC CHART

- A chart or map which shows lines connecting points where the magnetic
declination of the compass needle is the same at a given time. The lines are
drawn on such a chart are in turn referred to as isogonic lines.
- For some parts of the chart, it will be observed that magnetic declinations are
zero and the lines connecting them are called agonic lines. On an agonic line
the magnetic needle defines the true and magnetic north along the same
direction.
- In areas west of the agonic line the needle gas an easterly declination and those
east of the line, a westerly declination.
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IV. USE OF THE COMPASS

- To obtain the magnetic bearing of a line by means of a compass, the observer

sets up the instrument at one end of the line. The compass s held level and the
needle screw is released to allow the needle to swing freely about its pivot point.
 When the needle comes to rest, the magnetic bearing is read by noting where
the north end of the needle points on the graduated scale of the compass box.
- The north end of the needle indicates the angular part of the bearing and, the
quadrant in which the bearing lies is determined by observing the marking on
the compass box.
- Bearings are usually read to the nearest 10 or 15 minutes although it is possible
to estimate much smaller values.
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V. LOCAL ATTRACTION
- Local attraction is any deviation of the magnetic needle of a compass from its
normal pointing towards magnetic north.
- In some localities, particularly in cities, and in large excavation sites of iron
ore deposits, its effect is do pronounced that a magnetic compass could not be
reliably employed for determining directions.
- Local attractions at a particular point may be constant or may vary depending
upon surrounding magnetic influences.
- The magnitude of fixed local attraction can be usually be determined, and
magnetic directions observed may be corrected accordingly. In the case,
however, of varying local attraction such as direct current fluctuations, there is
no way of determining specific effects. When such problem is encountered the
best solution is to avoid it.
- To detect local attraction, the forward and back magnetic bearings of each line
are read, usually at the ends. Local attraction is present if the two observes
direction differ by more than the normal observational errors.

VI. MAGNETIC DIP

- Magnetic dip is the characteristic phenomenon of the compass needle to be
attracted downward from the horizontal plane due to the earth’s magnetic lines
of force.
- In a horizontal projection, these lines of force define the magnetic meridian.
While in elevation, these lines are inclined downward toward the north in the
northern hemisphere and also downward toward the south of the southern
hemisphere.
- The lines are only horizontal at points about halfway between the magnetic
poles such as at and near the equator.
- To counteract the effect of dip so that the needle will take a horizontal position
and be able to move freely about its pivot, a counterweight should be attached
to one end. In the northern hemisphere, the south end of the needle is weighted.
The opposite is done in the southern hemisphere.
- The counterweight usually consists of a short piece of a fine brass wire which
is wound around the needle and held in place. Sometime, a small clip of
nonmagnetic metal is fastened to the end of the needle.