In fact, it is currently moving closer to Russia at about 40 miles a year.
You wouldn't think that would cause direct changes to airports, though?
Well, it has. At Tampa International Airport they had to close their main runway so that markings on it can be repainted.
The markings are the runway names, which include an indicator of the alignment based on the position of the North Pole.
The main runway will be redesignated 19R/1L, from the 18R/36L designation it has been.
The change was required by the US Federal Aviation Authority. Two other runways will also be affected.
The shift is caused by changes in the earth's magnetic field. Not to worry you, but the north and south poles can even flip.
The last time the poles switched was 780,000 years ago, and it has happened about 400 times in 330 million years. Each reversal takes a thousand years or so to complete, and it takes longer for the shift to take effect at the equator than at the poles. The field has weakened about 10 percent in the last 150 years. Some scientists think this is a sign of a flip in progress.
Looks like there's a long-term furure in airport runway painting ...
