United Kingdom Magnetic Survey

Magnetic field strength and direction over the UK change both with time and according to location. Over the UK, declination changes by over 8 degrees from the most easterly to the most westerly points. Information published on Ordnance Survey maps needs to be regularly updated to take account of these changes. The data gathered from the re-occupation of a network of 51 survey points scattered over the length and breadth of the UK provides this information whilst also providing an update to the UK Regional Geomagnetic Model. This is a model of the magnetic field of the UK and its secular variation, or slow rate of change in time.

The data gathered from the United Kingdom magnetic survey are combined with similarly collected data from across the world in order to compute global models of the geomagnetic field. The accuracy of these models is dependent on the quality of the repeat station data and the regularity with which they are re-occupied.

The locations of the 51 magnetic repeat stations are chosen for their isolation from magnetic interference. The survey position is fixed both by marker and by survey bearings in order that an exact re-occupation can be made during future surveys. The network was established in Great Britain between 1985 and 1988. By the end of 2002 the fourth round or re-occupation of these sites was completed. The rolling programme of re-occupations means that all the repeat stations are visited at least once every five years.

The angle between grid north (British National Grid) and magnetic north can be computed using the Grid Magnetic Angle Calculator.