compass error using terrestrial observations.

Measurement of Direction

The 3-figure notation. The observer is considered to be at the center of his compass, the plane
of which represent the plane of horizon. The direction of the meridian through the observer
toward the north geographical pole is taken as the reference direction and called 000˚. The
circumference of the compass card representing the horizon is divided into 360˚and any
direction from the observer is expressed as the angle measured clockwise from the reference
direction of 000˚

Thus, the direction of east in 3-figure notation is 090˚ ( never 90˚.) Thus, the direction of south
in 3-figure notation is 180˚ Thus, the direction of west in 3-figure notation is 270˚ Thus, the
direction of north in 3-figure notation is 360˚ or 000˚

1 .Course. The direction of movement of the observer. 2. Bearing. The direction of an object
from the observer. Any instrument which is designed to measure these quantities is called a
compass and to measure direction correctly the reference or zero mark on the compass card
must be aligned with the direction of 000 deg. on the horizon. If this is not the case, then it is
necessary to find the true direction in which the compass zero point in order that a correction
may be applied to find the true direction of north.

Courses and bearings:

We have defined three directions which we can call north. True North- the direction of the
meridian through the observer towards the north geographical pole. Magnetic North- the
direction of the earth’s magnetic field at the position of the observer towards the magnetic
pole.

Compass North- the direction indicated by the north point of the compass. The difference
between true north and magnetic north measured as an angle at the observer, is the Variation.
The difference between magnetic north and compass north measured as an angle at the
observer is the deviation.

Deviation - the difference between true north and compass north measured as an angle at the
observer is the Compass Error. Any course or bearing can be denoted using any of these three
directions of north.
True Course or Bearing- the angle at the observer between the direction of true north and the
direction being measured, measured clockwise from the direction of true north.

Magnetic Course or Bearing- the angle at the observer between the direction of magnetic north
and the direction being measured, measured clockwise from the direction of magnetic north.

Compass Course or Bearing- the angle at the observer between the direction of the compass
north and the direction being measured, measured clockwise from the direction of the compass
north. the course or bearing indicated by the compass is the compass course or bearing and
before being used for navigation it must be corrected to a true course or bearing. To do this the
Variation and the Deviation should be combined to give the compass error which is then
applied, either to the true to give compass or the compass to give true. If the compass error is
west the compass course or bearing will be greater than the true course or bearing. If the
compass error is east, then the compass course or bearing will be less than the true course or
bearing.

T/N M/N

C/N

T/H M/H

V D C/H