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Related Concept Videos

Compass01:23

Compass

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The compass is a fundamental instrument that operates by aligning its magnetic needle with Earth's magnetic field. This alignment facilitates navigation and orientation, offering a means to determine direction relative to magnetic north. However, the magnetic needle points to magnetic north, which differs slightly from true geographic north due to magnetic declination, which is the angular deviation between these two points. Declination varies based on geographic location and shifts over time...
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Magnetic Declination01:19

Magnetic Declination

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Magnetic declination is the angle between true north, which aligns with the Earth's rotational axis, and magnetic north, which follows the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. This discrepancy exists because the magnetic poles do not coincide with the geographic poles. The value of magnetic declination depends on the observer's location on Earth and is subject to changes over time due to the dynamic nature of the Earth's magnetic field.The declination is called eastern when magnetic north...
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Azimuths and Bearings01:19

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Azimuths and bearings are essential concepts in surveying, providing methods to express the direction of a line relative to a meridian. Azimuths refer to the clockwise angle measured from the north end of a reference meridian to the given line, ranging from zero to 360 degrees. This method gives a comprehensive directional reference within a full 360-degree circle, making it a straightforward way to communicate direction in various fields, including navigation, cartography, and...
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Design Example: Marking Boundaries of a Site Using a Compass01:12

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Marking site boundaries using a compass is a precise surveying technique that ensures the accuracy of boundary delineation. The process begins by using provided site details, including the bearings and lengths of each boundary line. The initial step involves calculating latitudes and departures for all sides of the site. This computation verifies that the traverse is free of errors, ensuring a closed and accurate boundary.The process starts at a known point, such as Point A, which is often...
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Polar Coordinates01:24

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The polar coordinate system offers an alternative to the Cartesian coordinate system for specifying points in a plane, using a distance and an angle instead of x and y coordinates. This system is particularly advantageous in situations involving circular or rotational symmetry, such as in physics or engineering problems involving waves, oscillations, or orbital paths.Defining Polar CoordinatesIn polar coordinates, a point is represented as P(r, ��), where r is the radial distance...
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In surveying, meridians are vital reference lines to measure directions and establish accurate land orientations. Meridians run from the north to the south poles, providing a stable framework for angular measurements and mapping. Meridians are fundamental in survey design, with the primary types being astronomic, magnetic, and assumed meridians. Each type offers distinct benefits and limitations, selected based on the project's scale and precision needs.The astronomic meridian is aligned with...
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SIVQ-LCM Protocol for the ArcturusXT Instrument
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The sun compass revisited.

Tim Guilford1, Graham K Taylor1

  • 1Animal Behaviour Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, U.K.

Animal Behaviour
|November 13, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Animals use the sun for orientation in more ways than just a time-compensated sun compass. Clock shift experiments are not sufficient to identify all solar navigation methods, including compass and heading indicator mechanisms.

Keywords:
avian navigationclock shiftcompass orientationheading indicatorshadowssolar cuestime-compensated sun compass

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Area of Science:

  • Animal behavior
  • Navigation and orientation

Background:

  • Animals, especially birds, are thought to use a time-compensated sun compass for directional orientation.
  • Clock shift experiments are traditionally used to test this sun compass hypothesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore alternative ways animals use solar-derived information for orientation.
  • To challenge the paradigm that clock shift experiments are the sole determinant of sun compass use.

Main Methods:

  • Distinguishing between solar compass (absolute direction) and heading indicator (change in direction) mechanisms.
  • Analyzing the necessity of time compensation for solar compasses and heading indicators.
  • Considering the role of solar cues like shadows in position-dependent navigation.

Main Results:

  • Solar information can be used for absolute direction (compass) or detecting heading changes (indicator).
  • Full time compensation is not always necessary for solar compasses or heading indicators.
  • Solar cues like shadows can aid navigation in position-dependent ways.

Conclusions:

  • Clock shift experiments are insufficient to identify all solar orientation mechanisms.
  • The "acid test" paradigm for sun compass use is too narrow.
  • Animal orientation likely involves diverse strategies utilizing solar cues.