to compensate electronic compasses for inclination

English translation: compensation for magnetic declination

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	to compensate electronic compasses for inclination
Selected answer:	compensation for magnetic declination
Entered by:	Ken Cox

12:12 Jun 8, 2005

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng / sensors

English term or phrase: to compensate electronic compasses for inclination

In outdoor pursuits, low power devices could be used ***to compensate electronic compasses for inclination***** and to improve the performance of satellite navigation systems.

It's about a new generation of sensors (small size + low power) which could be built in sport equipment used for running, hiking, climbing, skiing...

Though I understand all the words of the bit between **, I am still unable to grasp the global meaning.

Could someone please reword and/or explain it for me.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Michel A. KudoZ activity Questions: 406 (1 open) (71 closed without grading) Answers: 4299
Local time: 21:49

to compensate for the difference between geographic and magnetic north

Explanation:
I suspect that what is actually meant here is the magnetic declination, which is the difference between magnetic north (whch an electronic compass senses, just like a mechanical one) and true (geographic) north. Magnetic inclination, properly speaking, is the angle between the local magnetic field of the earth and a horizontal line.
With a mechanical compass, declination compensation can be made manually (it is always shown on topographic map sheets), but with an electronic compass you need some other means. Also, for navigtation system some sort of automatic compensation method would be desirable, because the declination varies depending on where you are.

sample refs:

Magnetic Declination
... Another feature found in the legend of topographic maps is the magnetic declination. Magnetic declination is the difference between true north (the axis ...
geology.isu.edu/geostac/ Field_Exercise/topomaps/mag_dec.htm

Properties of Magnetic Field at Field Site How to Determine ...
... Magnetic inclination is the angle that the geomagnetic field is tilted with ... Magnetic inclination varies from 90° (perpendicular to the surface) at ...
www.erin.utoronto.ca/~w3gibo/ How%20to%20do%20field%20studies/properties_of_magnetic_field_at_.htm

Selected response from:

Ken Cox
Local time: 03:49

Grading comment

Thanks a lot
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

3 +2

to compensate for the difference between geographic and magnetic north

Ken Cox

3 +1

to compensate electronic compasses for inclination

David Sirett

inclination - a correction coefficient depending on the latitude of the point

Victor Potapov

Answers

43 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

to compensate for the difference between geographic and magnetic north

Ken Cox
Local time: 03:49
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 128

Grading comment

Thanks a lot

47 mins confidence:

inclination - a correction coefficient depending on the latitude of the point

Explanation:
The earth's geographic poles and magnetic poles are not located in the same point, so the arrow of the compass is pointing not directly at the geographic pole but rather at the magnetic pole. The further up north you go, the more pronunced the effect becomes. You have to correct the readings of the magnetic (or electronic - same principle) compass. The correction coefficient is the inclination. It depends on your latitude - the farther away from the North pole you are, the smaller this coefficient is.

This is (with great oversimplification) the essence of the matter. Needless to say, there are books written on this (and almost any other) subject.

Good luck!

Victor Potapov
Russian Federation
Local time: 04:49
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in category: 4

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

to compensate electronic compasses for inclination

Explanation:
Given your context, I'm pretty sure "inclination" here refers to tilting the compass, not the dip of the magnetic field (and certainly not to declination, the angle between true and magnetic North).

Reference: http://www.diltronic.com/pni/tcm2.htm

David Sirett
Local time: 03:49
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

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