‘True north’ is the direction to the geographic north pole; ‘grid north’ is where the vertical blue lines shown on Ordnance Survey (OS) maps converge, and ‘magnetic north’ is the direction that a compass needle points as it aligns with the Earth magnetic field.

In November 2022, as all three ‘norths’ aligned and met at a point in Langton Matravers in Dorset, England, for the first time. Now, after three historic years together, new magnetic field data collected by the 51ÁÔÆæ (BGS) and calculations made by OS have shown that the triple alignment is set to leave England at Berwick-upon-Tweed on 13 December 2025 and move into the North Sea. It predicted that the triple alignment will hit land again at the end of October 2026 in Drums, just south of Newburgh in Scotland. After passing through Mintlaw, its last stop in Scotland will be Fraserburgh around mid-December 2026, before it returns to the North Sea.

Once over the North Sea, the three norths are expected to continue northwards before leaving the British national grid. They will also stay in alignment for another couple of years before magnetic north separates from true north and grid north. Magnetic north moves slowly, so it may be several hundred years before this alignment comes around again., when magnetic north became east of grid north for some locations in Great Britain for the first time in more than 350 years. This affected navigators using a compass, who needed to adjust their bearing by subtracting instead of adding the difference between magnetic and grid north.

During the three norths’ time in England, they moved northwards through Poole near the end of 2022, then through Chippenham and Birmingham before reaching Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, in October 2024. The triple alignment then passed though the Pennines and will leave England at Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Due to refinement of the underlying models and the prediction data, the alignment progress has slowed slightly since the initial predictions back in 2022. When it crosses the coast at Berwick-upon-Tweed it will have travelled 576km (about 358 miles) in 1127 days so that about 511m per day (or about 5.9 mm per second or about 0.013 miles per hour). It will likely be a very long time before the alignment comes around again.

Mark Greaves, Earth measurement expert at OS.

The three norths combining in Great Britain has been a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Although part of geospatial history, there is no impact for navigators, pilots and captains once the alignment leaves, and people will still need to continue to take account of the variation between magnetic north from a compass and grid (or true) north on a map.

It been a privilege to be able to observe this phenomenon over the past few years. The magnetic field is not predictable in the long term, so we don’t know how many hundreds of years it will take for this historic alignment to occur again.

Dr Ciarán Beggan, geophysicist at BGS.

OS and the BGS Geomagnetism team collect detailed measurements of the magnetic field at more than 40 sites around the UK. These enable scientists to create high-resolution maps and make accurate forecasts of the .

Several factors, including changes in the flow of the Earth liquid outer core, the iron content of the local rocks and the variations in the magnetic field that are caused by the Sun, mean these predictions have some uncertainty and are a rough estimation of when the three norths are due to leave British soil.

Researchers working at the UK Geoenergy Observatory in Cheshire have shown that distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has the potential to detect subsurface temperature change during geothermal experiments. The research, which was conducted by scientists from the University of Leeds as part of the NERC-funded SmartRes project (grant number NE/X005496/1), used a high-resolution, fibre-optic DAS sensing system installed in boreholes at the Cheshire Observatory.

During two days of surveying in June 2025, over 1000 seismic impacts were made at the ground surface using a controlled seismic energy source. The energy generated by these impacts — essentially sound waves propagating through the ground — was recorded by DAS in the 5Ìýkm fibre-optic network installed in the observatory 100Ìým-deep boreholes. Strong seismic arrivals were visible at all depths, validating the survey set-up and providing an encouraging seismic baseline for future thermal testing. During subsequent tests, researchers will measure whether any variations in the arrival time of sound waves can be detected, as this could indicate where heat is moving in the subsurface.

DAS sensing has proven its credentials in many subsurface settings, but is yet to be widely developed for monitoring shallow geothermal operations. Initial analysis of the data recorded in Cheshire confirms the potential of this technology to provide high-resolution monitoring of the aquifer. This will contribute to wider understanding of geothermal processes and help with the design of efficient heating systems that use geothermal energy. The measurements are one of several datasets that provide a baseline for the acoustic, electrical and thermal properties of the Sherwood Sandstone Group.

It been very exciting to undertake the first DAS survey at the Cheshire Observatory. Fibre-optic technologies like DAS are giving us unprecedented insight into many subsurface processes. For geothermal applications, the insight is really timely: we need to demonstrate to prospective stakeholders that we understand how subsurface properties will evolve under various heating scenarios.

Prof Adam Booth, associate professor of applied geophysics at the University of Leeds.

The UK Geoenergy Observatories have been designed to advance our understanding of energy storage in shallow geological systems. This cutting-edge research undertaken by the team at the University of Leeds is an excellent demonstration of the potential for these facilities to deliver on that promise.

Dr Mike Spence, science and operations lead at BGS for the Cheshire Observatory.

The UK Geoenergy Observatories are a network of custom-built facilities operated by BGS that were designed to enable research in shallow geothermal energy and underground thermal energy storage. The facilities are available to the UK science community for research, innovation and training activities.

For further information, including details on how to access the sites, please visit .

More information

Five UK-made quantum magnetometers are being installed across the UK to provide complete national coverage of the magnetic field for the first time.

Quantum magnetometers are highly sensitive instruments that can detect variations in the Earth’s magnetic field with extreme precision. These new sensors will provide data to BGS that will give scientists a more comprehensive understanding of how the magnetic field changes during extreme magnetic storms. These are the same storms that trigger aurorae like those the UK experienced during May 2024.

During these storms, variations of the geomagnetic field can be large enough to cause localised effects on grounded technology such as power grids, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and railway signals. Until now, it has not been possible to study these regional variations using the three existing UK geomagnetic observatories. The new quantum magnetometers have been strategically placed around the country to fill in gaps in the national coverage and allow small-scale, local variations to be monitored.

The more that is known about the nature of magnetic storms — how often they occur, how big they can be and how they interact with our natural and artificial environments — the better scientists can advise Government, the public and industry on where the risks are to the technologies we rely on. This allows organisations such as the UK’s power distribution companies to take measures to protect supplies and services against the effects of space weather.

The quantum magnetometers have been developed and optimised by the University of Strathclyde and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) RAL Space. The sites of these new sensors have been carefully selected across the UK and have been picked for their suitability for detecting magnetic signals with minimal interference. They are installed at:

• Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
• Boulby, Noth Yorkshire
• Blickling, Norfolk
• Chilbolton Observatory, Hampshire
• Thurso, Caithness

We are incredibly excited to be able to study the magnetic field around the UK in greater detail than ever before. The installation of the five new quantum magnetometers will help to fill in the gaps between the existing observatories and will improve our vision of the changes taking place during extreme magnetic storms.

These new measurements will greatly enhance our understanding of how extreme magnetic storms impact different parts of the country. This means that society in general will have access to the advice and information needed to understand where we are vulnerable to magnetic storms and to make informed decisions on how to mitigate against them.

Dr Ciarán Beggan, geophysicist at BGS.

The quantum magnetometers were developed through the , specifically the Quantum Technology Hub in Sensors and Timing. The funding to build and deploy the sensors comes from UK Research and Innovation (51ÁÔÆæ).

Landslides are an ongoing global threat that can lead to significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure. The paper, ‘’, describes a new geophysical method that enables a way of observing the subsurface to look for signs of underlying slope failure. Signs include moisture, suction and shear strength, which, when monitored, can provide earlier warning of hazard. The paper, led by BGS Honorary Research Associate (HRA) Arnaud Watlet with 16 co-authors — 10 of which are from BGS — has been awarded the 2024 British Geotechnical Association (BGA) medal for ‘meritorious contributions to geotechnical science or practice’.

The research was undertaken at BGS Hollin Hill Landslide Observatory in Yorkshire. The slope at Hollin Hill features slow-moving, clay-rich land, common to much lowland landslide activity across the world. Change was monitored at the observatory over a two-year period, focusing on the wettest parts of each season. Researchers used electrical resistivity tomography and low-frequency distributed acoustic sensing to investigate the integrity of unstable slopes at various scales. Combining resistivity and fibre optics to observe changes in ground composition allowed for better monitoring and evaluation of natural and engineered slopes.

Landslides triggered by rainfall can significantly affect communities and infrastructure. Predicting exactly where and when they’ll occur is challenging, as local factors like geology, slope orientation and ground moisture all play a role. Most landslide early warning systems mainly track slope movement or rainfall intensity but, by monitoring ground moisture, we can extend the warning period at particularly vulnerable locations.

Arnaud Watlet, BGS HRA and lead author of the paper.

We are delighted to receive the BGA award, which recognises the incredible work and strong dedication of our team to landslide prevention.

Jim Whitely, BGS HRA and co-author of the paper.

Hundreds of thousands of mariners, airline operators and North Pole-based gift distribution specialists will be rushing to update their navigation systems after the launch of a new model tracking magnetic north, which is crucial to the accuracy of global positioning systems (GPS) that are relied upon across the world.

In partnership with the UK Defence Geographic Centre and the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), BGS and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have teamed up to update the World Magnetic Model (WMM).

The WMM is the standard model used by the United Kingdom and the United States governments, including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as organizations with an international remit such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the International Hydrographic Organization and the UK Hydrographic Office.

The model comprises a series of magnetic field maps that track changes in the magnetic field, such as the spot at which compass needles point in the northern hemisphere. To ensure pinpoint accuracy, it is crucial that the shifts in magnetic north, which are caused by flow of the liquid iron in the outer core of the Earth, are taken into account in the electronic equipment that is trusted to guide global trade and enable the safe transit of travellers across the planet. From GPS-enabled mobile phones to nuclear submarines, this improved resolution update will allow navigation with more accuracy than ever before to take place in the run up to Christmas — vital for all those who do not have a red nose to follow.

The WMM is officially released today, ensuring users can have the most up-to-date information so they can continue to navigate accurately for the next five years.

The current behaviour of magnetic north is something that we have never observed before. Magnetic north has been moving slowly around Canada since the 1500s but, in the past 20 years, it accelerated towards Siberia, increasing in speed every year until about five years ago, when it suddenly decelerated from 50 to 35Ìýkm per year, which is the biggest deceleration in speed we’ve ever seen.

Dr William Brown, global geomagnetic field modeller at BGS.

While each model predicts how magnetic north will shift over the five-year period to limit any error, the change will have an impact on travellers.

Imagine someone was planning to travel by sleigh from a chimney top in South Africa to a snow covered-roof in the UK, a journey of around 8500 km. Using the previous WMM and setting off just one degree off-course, he would end up approximately 150 km away from where he should[1]. With a margin of error of only a few inches between chimney flues, this could cause significant issues.

, and the  and the are available for download.

More information

This year marks the first year that two versions of the model are being released. In addition to WMM2025, the 2025 update features the first-ever WMM High-Resolution 2025, which includes improved spatial resolution of approximately 300 km at the equator compared to the standard spatial resolution of 3300 km at the equator. Higher resolution provides greater directional accuracy through enhanced precision in the data.

Sponsored by NGA and the Defence Geographic Centre, the WMM is produced by BGS and NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. It is the standard model used by the US Department of Defense, the UK Ministry of Defence, NATO and the International Hydrographic Organization for navigation, attitude and heading referencing systems using the geomagnetic field. It is also used widely in civilian navigation and heading systems. The WMM is updated every five years and its accuracy is validated annually to ensure it falls within the WMM military specification.

About NGA

NGA delivers world-class geospatial intelligence that provides a decisive advantage to policymakers, warfighters, intelligence professionals and first responders.

NGA is a unique combination of intelligence agency and combat support agency. It is the world leader in timely, relevant, accurate and actionable geospatial intelligence. NGA enables the US intelligence community and the Department of Defense to fulfill the president national security priorities to protect the nation.

For more information about NGA, visit us online at , , , and

[1] It is believed that, while such a traveller may not rely primarily on satellite navigation, no logistical expert delivering hundreds of years of consistent service would not have such technology as a backup in case of emergency.

In September 2024, I attended the (EMIW). This biennial meeting is held by the (IAGA) Division VI, a vibrant geophysics community that uses electromagnetic (EM) methods to look deep into the Earth (and sometimes beyond). Ìý

About EMIW 

EMIW is organised by the national EM geophysics communities. The very first workshop was held in Edinburgh in 1972, when Rosemary Hutton (a trailblazer for EM research and women in geophysics) was a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. Since then, the meeting has taken place every other year all over the globe. The conference is the stage for EM geophysicists to exchange their ideas, present their newest research and form vital relationships, as well as find potential new project partners and sometimes the next science job as well!  

EMIW in Japan 

This year, it was the large Japanese EM geophysics community that hosted the workshop. In Japan, geophysics is so important because of all the natural hazards present: earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and tsunamis. Befittingly, Beppu on the island of Kyushu was chosen as the workshop venue; Beppu is famous for its hot springs, also called ‘Beppu hells’! Most hotels in town have traditional hot baths (‘onsen’) and mine was on the rooftop with views over the ocean. Unfortunately, the daytime temperature in Japan reached 35°C every day, which was not very conducive to hot baths.  

The conference included nine sessions and various review talks. I convened a session on EM monitoring of geohazards, which is a broad theme where our work at BGS to assess space-weather effects fits right in alongside volcano monitoring, changing glaciers, landslides and tsunamis. Other sessions covered more fundamental topics such as instrumentation, data acquisition, processing, modelling and inversions, as well as application areas like resource exploration. There were also specific sessions on airborne, marine and extraterrestrial EM, including a very interesting review talk on EM geophysics on other planetary bodies in NASA/ESA missions. Volcanoes in Japan and on other islands were a prominent topic, as was geothermal research.  

Visiting Mount Aso 

An excursion on the third day of the conference is a staple in the EMIW tradition. Many scientists will agree that the third day of a conference is when everyone gets tired and overwhelmed by all the exciting chat and talks and new ideas swirling around, so a day out in the field provides a great alternative way of understanding key ideas. In Beppu, several excursion options were available to the conference participants. I had signed up to the popular trip to visit , a volcano located in the centre of Kyushu.  

Firstly, we visited the Shinto shrine where locals and guests honour the mountain. The volcano is located in one of the largest calderas in the world and is one of the most active, with its last eruption in 2021. The volcano is very well monitored and the visitor sites have emergency shelters, so we felt very safe visiting the rim of the crater lake.  

Back to the workshop 

Back in Beppu, the workshop continued for another three days. The final day closed with a big gala dinner, where Japanese delicacies and traditional sake (a clear rice wine) were served. A smaller group of fellow scientists finished the conference with a round of karaoke before saying our goodbyes. Next time we’ll convene in 2026, in St John,  Canada. 

About the author

The UK Quantum Technology Research Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing (QuSIT) has been selected as one of five hubs to be delivered by the 51ÁÔÆæ Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of a £160 million investment, announced by the Science Secretary, Peter Kyle.

QuSIT is a collaboration of expert physicists, engineers and data scientists and is led by the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with:

• 51ÁÔÆæ
• Durham University
• Heriot-Watt University
• Imperial College London
• National Physical Laboratory
• University of Bristol
• University of Nottingham
• University of Southampton
• University of Strathclyde

The new hub will formally launch in December 2024 and will focus on overcoming the main research barriers to scaling-up and manufacturing quantum sensing, imaging and timing devices. Examples of this new technology include:

• cameras to detect gas leaks and hidden objects
• quantum brain scanners to enhance investigation of mental health disorders and epilepsy
• quantum sensing of gravity and magnetic fields to help increase resilience and capacity of critical infrastructure

QuSIT will also draw together industry, academia and Government to use the power of quantum sensing, imaging and timing to help address challenges in healthcare, infrastructure, transportation and security, enabling a safer, healthier and more sustainable society.

We are excited to form a new quantum technology hub in sensing. Our aim is to accelerate the commercial development of quantum sensing, imaging and timing devices, which will result in real societal and economic benefits. We look forward to working closely with our partners, the other new quantum technology hubs, our funders EPSRC, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, as well as the wider academic and industry communities, to ensure quantum technologies deliver their best for society.

Prof Michael Holynski, principal investigator for QuSIT.

Quantum technologies harness quantum physics to gain a functionality or performance that is otherwise unattainable, deriving from scientific findings that cannot be explained by classical physics such as Newton laws of motion or thermodynamics.

The hubs are delivered by EPSRC, with a £106 million investment from EPSRC, the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, the Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Industry collaboration is a key element to all the hubs, which leverage significant cash and in-kind contributions from partners worth more than £54 million.

We are delighted to be part of the UK Quantum Technology Research Hub in Sensing, Imaging and Timing. We will demonstrate the transformative potential of the hub sensing technologies in the earth sciences, feeding back observations and data to inform their ongoing development. Our goal is to use the unique capabilities of quantum technology sensors to better understand the structure and behaviour of the subsurface and the opportunities and challenges it presents.

Dr Paul Wilkinson, BGS Principal Research Geophysicist.

The new hubs continue the work of the . Now in its tenth year, the partnership of more than £1 billion between Government, academia and industry fast-tracks quantum knowledge from the laboratory to benefit wider society and the economy. They are also a key component of the , which outlines an investment of £2.5 billion of Government funding in quantum research and development in the next ten years.

51ÁÔÆæ’s multi-hazards and resilience (MHR) science challenge area engages with partners in the UK and internationally to support communities, governments and industry in building resilience to hazardous events. Jonathan will oversee the delivery of fundamental scientific research into risk mitigation and adaption to geological and associated environmental hazards through improved characterisation, monitoring, forecasting and information delivery.

Based at the BGS Headquarters in Keyworth, Nottingham, but working across all BGS sites, this role involves leadership of around 100 scientific and technical staff. One of Jonathan first tasks will be to work alongside other members of the BGS Senior Management Board and Science Strategy Group to implement and deliver the new BGS Business Plan.

Jonathan is an engineering geophysicist with more than 25 years of experience in subsurface imaging and monitoring. His recent research has focused on geohazard characterisation, landslide early warning and the development of innovative technologies for assessing environmental impacts on critical infrastructure, including risks associated with cascading hazards. He has a strong focus on innovation and the translation of research findings into tangible benefits for stakeholders in industry, academia and government.

Jonathan currently leads the BGS Shallow Geohazards and Earth Observation capability, which comprises the geodesy and remote sensing, engineering geology, environmental and engineering geophysics and coasts and estuaries teams, as well as the BGS Research and Development Workshop Facility. He is also a 51ÁÔÆæ Individual Merit Promotion scientist.

I am delighted to be taking on the role of BGS Chief Scientist for multi-hazards and resilience. BGS has a crucial role to play in the efforts to enhance societal resilience to geohazards and multi-hazards in the UK and internationally. I am very excited for this new opportunity to work with my colleagues and partners to deliver cutting-edge research, real-world solutions and geoscientific knowledge to support policy and decision makers for the wider public good.

Prof Jonathan Chambers.

On behalf of BGS and the BGS Board, we are thrilled to welcome Jonathan into this important role.Ìý His proven track record in shallow hazards research and his expertise in providing solutions for societal resilience to geohazards and multi-hazards in the UK and internationally will be paramount in supporting and delivering the BGS Strategy and Business Plan.

Dr Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director.