Introduction to inclination with compasses

* Inclination is an important concept in the world of compasses.
* It has nothing to do with the direction, but with the angle of the magnetic field.
* It is an essential aspect for certain compasses.

What is Inclination in a compass?

* Inclination refers to the angle between the Earth’s magnetic field and the Earth’s surface.
* This is also called the magnetic dip or dip angle.
* The Earth’s magnetic field is not parallel to the Earth’s surface.
* At the equator, the inclination is 0°, which means the magnetic field is horizontal.
* Toward the magnetic poles, the inclination increases and becomes vertical, with a value of 90°.

Navigating in winter

Why is Inclination Important?

* Compasses with a needle that can move freely in all directions are affected by inclination.
* In areas of high inclination, the needle of the compass may bump against the housing.
* This may cause the compass to be inaccurate or jam.
* That is why there are compasses that are balanced for different areas with different inclinations.

How does a Balanced Compass work?

* A balanced compass has a needle that is compensated for inclination.
* There are three balancing zones: for the northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere and tropics.
* Choosing a compass suitable for your zone will prevent the needle from getting stuck.

Suunto A-10 compass

Example of inclination

* Suppose you are in Norway with a compass balanced for the tropics.
* Due to the high inclination in Norway, the needle of the compass may bump against the housing.
* Your compass may get stuck or inaccurate as a result.
* That is why it is important to have a compass that is balanced for the area you are in.

Conclusion

* Inclination is an important aspect of using a compass.
* It makes your compass work correctly depending on where you are in the world.
* A well-balanced compass takes inclination into account and helps you navigate accurately.
* Learn more. Also read all about declination, variation and deviation.

Want to learn even more about navigating with map and compass, including how inclination works?
Then participate in our Map and Compass workshop.
There you will learn all about the basics of navigation and the practical use of map and compass.