In a report given earlier this week by a National Geographic News report, the Earth's north pole is slowly shifing towards Russia almost 40 miles per year. And who is affected? Airports, namley Tampa International Airport in Florida.
As Airport officials close their runways until the 13th of this month, many are left wondering why and what the correlation is between the magnetic shifts and airplane flights.
"Magnetic changes in Earth's core are causing this, possibly due to 'a region of rapidly changing magnetism on the core's surface,'" according to a National Geographic report.
But usually magnetic shifts don't cause major airport shut downs, but in the case of Tampa International, piolits wanted to be absolutley sure of their correct heading.
"You want to be absolutely precise in your compass heading," FAA spokesperson Paul Takemoto said. "To make sure the precision is there that we need, you have to make these changes."
Another FAA spokesperson, Kathleen Bergen also stated that the earth's magnetic poles are shifting constantly; however with changes of more than three degrees, airports need to re-calculate headings and direction based on longitude, lattitude, and the magnetic poles.
As of now it is not known if other airports world-wide will need time off for re-calibration.
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