Azimuth southeast direction. Orientation on the terrain in azimuths. Determination of azimuths to local objects. What is the azimuth for?

Azimuth

the angle between the meridian plane of the observation point and the vertical plane passing through this point and the observed object (an object on the ground or a luminary). Azimuth is counted from sowing. (in geodesy) or from the south. (in astronomy) the end of a meridian clockwise from 0 to 360°. There are true (astronomical), geodetic and magnetic azimuths. When determining the magnetic azimuth, instead of the plane of the geographic meridian, the plane of the magnetic meridian is taken. When moving in any direction, a direct azimuth is distinguished, determined at the starting point of the direction, and a reverse azimuth, indicating the direction from the end point to the starting point, it differs from the direct one by 180 ° and the amount of convergence of the meridians. Determining the azimuth is necessary when moving on the ground, in maritime and air navigation. In navigation, instead of the term "azimuth", the term "bearing" is often used.

A - true azimuth; δ is the magnetic declination; A m - magnetic azimuth

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Under the editorship of prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

Synonyms:

See what "azimuth" is in other dictionaries:

azimuth- azimuth, and ... Russian spelling dictionary

Azimuth: Wiktionary has an entry for azimuth

- (from Arabic assumut road). 1) the arc of the horizon enclosed between the meridian of a given point and the vertical circle of any luminary. 2) the angle made at the place of observation between the noon line and the line of sight directed to the observed ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

azimuth- a m. azimuth m. Arab. al samt. 1544. Lexis. 1. In astronomy and geodesy, the angle between the meridian plane of the observation point and the vertical plane passing through the given point and some luminary measured along the horizon. ALS 2. Through what ... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

- (from the Arabic word assumût, i.e., paths, roads) the luminary is the angle formed by the plane of the meridian with the vertical plane passing through this luminary, and measured by the arc of the horizon, which is contained between these two planes. Azimuth happens ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

- (arab. ac stick, pl. from ac samt way, direction *a. azimuth; n. Azimut, Marschrichtungszahl; f. azimut; and. azimut) dihedral angle between the meridian plane of the observation point and the vertical plane passing in the given direction... Geological Encyclopedia

- (Arabic as sumut plural from as samt path, direction) of an object, direction, angle (azimuth) between the meridian plane of the observation point and the vertical plane passing through this point and the observed object. Measured from the north (in geodesy) ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

AZIMUT, the angle between a vertical plane passing through a celestial body and the north-south direction. Measured by astronomers in the east direction from the northern point of the observer's horizon. Navigators and geologists measure it in the west direction from ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

Luminaries (old azimuth) (Azimuth) is the spherical angle at the zenith between the vertical of the luminary and the meridian of the observer. This angle is measured by the arc of the true horizon from the midnight part of the observer's meridian to the star's vertical to the east or west from 0 to ... Marine Dictionary

- (polar) angle Dictionary of Russian synonyms. azimuth noun, number of synonyms: 1 angle (27) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

azimuth- and outdated azimuth ... Dictionary of pronunciation and stress difficulties in modern Russian

Hi all! In continuation of the topic on orienteering, as promised, I propose an article, azimuth and how to determine it. In any campaign or journey, when using a map, if poor visibility or terrain does not allow you to visually compare the map and the terrain, determining the azimuth and moving along it will greatly facilitate the task of orienting. So what is azimuth?

Azimuth is the angle between the direction of the geographic meridian and the direction to any remote object from the observation point (denoted as Am). Azimuth is measured in degrees and can range from 0° to 360°, usually measured clockwise. Azimuths can be direct and reverse. Direct azimuth, clockwise from 0°, it shows the direction from the observer to the object. Back azimuth, shows the direction, from the subject to the observer. To get the back azimuth, you need to add 180 ° to the forward azimuth if the forward azimuth is less than 180 °, or subtract this value if more than 180 °. Example: direct azimuth, to a lone tree 330°, then the reverse azimuth will be: 330°-180°=150°. To quickly determine landmarks, you need to remember the directions of the main and intermediate sides of the horizon in degrees, clockwise: North - 0 ° (or 360 °, if counterclockwise), East - 90 °, Northeast - 45 °, Southeast - 135°, South - 180°, Southwest - 225°, West - 270°, Northwest - 315°.

When determining the cardinal points (horizon), one must take into account that the geographic and magnetic poles of the earth do not coincide, they are at some distance from each other. Therefore, the compass needle does not point exactly to the North, but a little to the side, to the North magnetic pole. The same thing happens with the South Pole, in the southern hemisphere of the earth. To avoid confusion in the calculations, you need to know that any map is oriented to the geographic pole, and the compass needle points to the magnetic pole. The difference between them is a few degrees, this angle is called, Magnetic declination. Magnetic declination, may be East, the compass needle deviates east of the true (geographic) meridian and is indicated by "+". Or Western, the deviation of the arrow to the west and the designation "-". This difference must be taken into account when transferring the azimuth obtained on the map (true azimuth) to the azimuth along which you will go using a compass (magnetic azimuth). When translating the true azimuth into magnetic, with an easterly declination, the true azimuth must be reduced by the value of the declination, with a western increase. The magnitude of the magnetic declination is not the same in different areas, for example: for the Moscow region it is +7, +8 ° (Eastern declination), but in general in Russia it varies significantly. There is a site where you can determine the magnetic declination for any point on the earth.

To determine the azimuth on the ground using a compass, stand facing the landmark, the direction to which must be determined by rotating the compass, combine the northern end of the compass needle with zero division on the limb (compass dial). Further, leaving the compass body motionless and making sure that the arrow does not deviate from the zero division, we rotate the sighting device until the rear sight is aimed at the object whose azimuth must be determined. We note about which number on the limb, the pointer-triangle stopped, we combine in one line, the object, the front sight and the rear sight, the resulting angle between the compass needle and the orientation object and there will be the required azimuth.

Next, consider the methods of movement on the map, using a pre-laid route, in azimuths. The number of landmarks and the choice of the route of movement are determined depending on the nature of the terrain, tasks and conditions of the upcoming movement. The main thing is to choose a route that would provide a quick exit to the designated landmark (object). Therefore, it is desirable to choose a route without unnecessary turns, with sections that are most convenient for movement, taking into account the avoidance of obstacles encountered on the ground. And so, we select the landmarks and connect them with straight lines (example in the figure) if they do not intersect the grid lines on the map, they must be continued until the intersection, this is done to facilitate the determination of the azimuth angles. After that, on the map, for each segment of the route, we determine the directional angle and, introducing a direction correction, translate it into a magnetic azimuth, which we write on the map opposite the corresponding section. This angle is measured clockwise, using a protractor or compass. This is done like this, we lay down a map with a drawn route on a flat surface, orient it as accurately as possible according to the compass, taking into account the direction correction. Then, without changing the orientation of the map, we apply the compass to the first line of the route, so that the direction North - South coincides with the drawn direction, while the North should be directed in the direction of movement. After the compass needle calms down, we make a reading along the compass dial, under its northern end, subtract the resulting number from 360 ° and get the magnetic azimuth of the desired direction. For example (in the figure) in the first section, the magnetic azimuth is: 360°-340°=20°, the azimuth of the second section: 360°-30°=330°, in the same way, sequentially, we determine the azimuths of all other sections of the route. Next, we measure the length of each section, on the ground this can be done using the method, pairs of steps (average length of 2 pairs of steps = 1.5 meters), example: if the distance of the section is 1200m, then in pairs of steps it will be: 1200: 1.5= 800 pairs of steps. It is also desirable to record the time of passage of each section by the clock. All data is also recorded on the map, against their sites.

When moving along azimuths, on the ground, there may be all kinds of obstacles (forest blockages, swamps, lakes, etc.) that are easier to bypass than to overcome. Therefore, you need to be able to bypass obstacles without losing orientation. Consider two ways to bypass obstacles, 1 when the opposite side of the obstacle is visible (Fig. a), 2 when the opposite side of the obstacle is not visible (Fig. b). In the first case, everything is simple: we notice a landmark in the direction of movement, on the opposite side of the obstacle, and without losing sight of it, go around the obstacle, continue moving along the planned route, from the landmark that was used during the bypass (Fig. a). The second case is more complicated, we act as follows, example: (Fig. b) suppose that the movement was made along the azimuth of 50 ° and 340 pairs of steps were passed before stopping in front of the obstacle. After studying the terrain, it was decided to bypass the obstacle on the left side. We determine by compass, the azimuth of the direction along the obstacle (from point A to point B), we continue to move in this direction, while counting, in pairs of steps, to the right border of the obstacle. In the figure, the azimuth from point A to point B is 320°, and the distance traveled is 142 pairs of steps. We stop at point B, determine by compass, the direction of the initial azimuth along which you were moving, before meeting with an obstacle of 50 °, we continue to move until we go over the obstacle and keep counting in pairs of steps, from point B to go beyond the obstacle to point C, in the figure , the distance is 238 pairs of steps. From point C we move to the right, we already have data on the azimuth of movement from point A to point B, we translate them into reverse azimuth (in the figure, the reverse azimuth is 140 °) and move from point C, along the reverse azimuth, counting exactly 142 pairs of steps , this will be point D, at point D, again we determine by compass, the direction of the azimuth of the initial movement is 50 ° and continue moving along the intended route. Be sure to save the obstacle avoidance data and add distances to the route, this will help calculate the distance traveled when returning along the same azimuths.

If the situation allows, it is best to bypass obstacles along linear landmarks, these can be clearings, rivers, streams, power lines, their azimuths are determined and marked on the map in advance, this will greatly facilitate your orientation on the move. At the slightest doubt, in the correctness of the movement, in both of the above cases, it is necessary to stop and clarify your location by carefully comparing the map with the terrain, an example of the correct comparison of the map with the terrain is shown in the figure above.

For precise orientation of the map, you can use an ordinary pencil, attaching it to the symbol of the landmark on the map (example in the figure, bridge), combine its direction with the direction of the landmark on the ground. Then they check whether all local objects and landforms located on the ground, to the right and left of the bridge, have the same location on the map. If all conditions match, the map is oriented correctly. And finally, the main reasons for orientation errors are not in faulty equipment, but in the lack of skills and experience in using this equipment, constant training and improving your knowledge in this area will help you find your way to the place you need in a critical situation. To start orienteering training, it is not even necessary to leave the house, it is enough to determine the point of your stay in the room and from it determine the azimuths of objects in this room.

What unites people who are preparing for the apocalypse, travel and orienteering competitions? They all know what azimuth is and how to determine it. It's good for you to understand this too.

What is azimuth in simple words

Azimuth is a value that allows you to continue moving even with limited visibility and no landmarks. It represents the angle between the north direction and the place you need to get to.

This is an indispensable tool for sailors, military, backpackers and ordinary fighters for the salvation of mankind. In general, cool guys know what azimuth is.

In what cases can this be useful? For example: you sailed on a ship where the navigator was a loser and incorrectly determined the azimuth. As a result, the ship ran into a reef off the coast of Western Sahara. There are no landmarks, water and provisions will last for several days. From the equipment - a map and a compass.

Knowing how to use a compass and determine the bearing, you will quickly realize that the city of Dakar is relatively close. Having laid a course, it remains to lead people to salvation, guided by the indicator of the device.

When you get to the place, you will become a hero. At a minimum, there will be something to tell your grandchildren, and as a maximum, a book will be written about you and, possibly, a film will be made.

Azimuth: how to determine it

Now about the main thing. You can determine the azimuth on the ground and on the map. The first method is suitable for travel with visually visible landmarks. The second - when laying long routes. In order not to get lost in the three pines, you need to know the features of both methods.

How to determine the direction of movement on the ground. For this you will need:

Compass.
Landmark to reach.
General ideas about geometry.

On the ground, the bearing is determined by calculating the angle between north on the compass and the destination point. To do this, you need to put the compass on your palm and turn in the direction of the direction of movement. Then look at what value on the target scale the north arrow points to (usually it is red).

Note: if the compass does not have a sighting scale with degree markings, it is recommended to make a small notch or mark the angle with a pencil or marker.

In a dense forest, the determination of the azimuth on the ground occurs as follows:

Climb to the top of a tall tree and look for a suitable landmark (rooftops, radio tower, smoke from factory chimneys).
Hold the compass horizontally and turn in the direction of your destination.
What value the "north" arrow will show will be the azimuth.

How to determine the azimuth on the map? Here everything is a little more complicated, but at the same time quite simple. To determine the azimuth on a topographic map, you don’t even need a compass, just a protractor and a pencil.

Action algorithm:

Find your location on the map. This can be done at the nearest landmarks.
Set a point where you want to get to.
Draw a straight line from location to destination.
Attach the protractor to the location point and arc in the direction of the destination (west or east).
Mark the corner. If you need to move northeast, east or southeast on the map, then the angle value remains unchanged. In the case of movement to the northwest, west and southwest, 180 must be added to the angle value. The resulting value will be the azimuth.

If there is no protractor at hand, you can determine the azimuth on the map using a compass. By analogy with the previous method, mark the location and destination points on the map and connect them with a line.

Then you need to orient the map to the cardinal points and put a compass on the location point so that the arrow points strictly to the north. After that, direct the front sight of the sighting pointer to the destination. The indicator of the sight is the azimuth. It is important that the compass needle does not deviate during the calculation, otherwise the data will be inaccurate.

In the field, it is easier to use a protractor, since in nature it is almost impossible to find a flat surface for a compass.

Note! On the azimuth calculated on the map, it is impossible to navigate the terrain. Why? The fact is that such an indicator is called true (geographic), and it differs from magnetic (what the compass shows).

Therefore, in order to be guided by the compass indicators while driving, it is necessary to convert the true azimuth into magnetic.

For this, the formula is used: Am \u003d AI - MS + SM,

Am is the magnetic azimuth.
AI is the true azimuth.
MC is the magnetic declination.
SM - convergence of meridians.

The indicator of magnetic declination and convergence of the meridians is indicated on the map and differs for each specific region of the planet. They can be positive and negative: eastern (+), western (-).

In addition, the magnetic declination can change over the years. Therefore, to get a more accurate indicator of MC, you need to multiply its annual change by the number of years since the publication of the topographic map.

An example of calculating the magnetic azimuth:

We determined the true figure to be 97.22° from a 1995 map. Magnetic declination (MS) east - 15.31°, annual change - 0.02°. Convergence of meridians (CM) - 3.24°.

Let's calculate the magnetic declination: MS = (0.02*23) +15.31 = 15.77°.
Now you can find out the magnetic azimuth: Am \u003d 97.22 - 15.77 + 3.24 \u003d 84.96 °.

As you can see, the difference between true and magnetic direction can be quite significant. Therefore, if you do not want to miss the target for a couple of tens, or even hundreds of kilometers, always consider this moment.

Determining the azimuth is a skill that an ordinary person may not need in life, but, you see, it’s better to play it safe. A zombie apocalypse is unlikely, but it is quite possible to get lost, especially given the expanses of Kazakhstan. Good luck and always carry a compass!

The concept of azimuth is one of the main ones in orientation. Without knowing what an azimuth is and how to deal with it, a person will not be able to fully use the information provided to him by the map and choose the correct direction of movement in the absence of landmarks. Accordingly, being able to determine the azimuth using a compass, and at best - even without it - is a necessary skill for a person who, with one frequency or another, is in a deserted area.

Azimuth allows you to correctly orient the map and choose the direction of movement and determine your own location.

Azimuth and its types

Azimuth is the angle measured from north. This angle is always measured clockwise.

Azimuth is mainly used to:

to search for the direction of movement on the map and on the ground;
determine the direction to the landmark in order to put it on the map, or vice versa - to find it on the ground;
determine your location by two landmarks.

There are two types of azimuth - true and magnetic. The difference between the first and the second is that the true azimuth is determined relative to the direction to the geographic north, and the magnetic one is relative to the direction to the magnetic north, that is, the north that the magnetic compass needle points to. It is with the second type that one has to deal with if a magnetic compass is used in the work.

In most cases, the magnetic azimuth differs from the true one, since the direction to the magnetic pole usually does not coincide with the direction to the geographic pole.

Let me remind you that the directions to the geographic and magnetic north most often do not coincide.

In order to derive the magnetic from the true azimuth, you need to know the magnitude of the magnetic declination. It shows the difference between these two values.

In addition, you need to look at what declination you have to deal with - with the eastern or western. If the magnetic declination is east, this means that the northern part of the magnetic compass needle will deviate to the right in relation to the geographical north, if the declination is west, then to the left, that is, point to the northeast or northwest, respectively.

So, how to translate the true azimuth into magnetic? It's simple ... If the magnetic declination is western, then the value of declination must be added to the true azimuth, if eastern - subtract.

In addition to the true and magnetic azimuth, there is such a thing as a directional angle. This angle is an analogue of the azimuth, but measured not from the true or magnetic meridian, but from the north direction of the kilometer grid.

In order to know the true azimuth, knowing the directional angle, you need to know the magnitude of the convergence of the meridians.

The convergence of the meridians is the angle between the true meridian and the north direction of the kilometer grid line.

If the kilometer grid is tilted to the left of the direction of the true meridian, then the angle is considered negative, if to the right, then positive.

Thus, to translate the directional angle into the true azimuth, the value of the convergence of the meridians is subtracted from the obtained value of the directional angle. If the convergence of the meridians is negative, then minus by minus gives a plus, which means that the resulting value increases by the value of the convergence of the meridians.

Magnetic declination and directional angle used to be indicated on topographic maps at the bottom of the frame. Recently, unfortunately, more and more often you have to see maps without any hint of such data. And if the convergence of the meridians can be measured on the map on your own, but with magnetic declination everything is a little more complicated.

If the magnetic declination is not indicated on the map, its values for a particular area can be searched on the Internet. It is not always good to use very old magnetic declination values, since its value changes over time.

How to determine the azimuth on the map

Consider ways to find the true and magnetic azimuths on the map. There are three options here.

Option number 1. With the help of a transporter.

For this:

A standard card is taken.
On the map, a point is selected from which the azimuth will be plotted.
A barely noticeable vertical line is drawn through this point with a simple pencil.
The second point is selected, in relation to which the azimuth will be measured.
From the first point to the second, a second barely noticeable line is drawn with a simple pencil.
With the help of a protractor clockwise, the angle between the two lines is measured. The result will be the true azimuth.
If necessary, the true azimuth is converted to magnetic.

In orienteering, a protractor is a necessary thing, and therefore it is sometimes useful to make it even from improvised materials.

This option is good when there was no compass at hand. If a compass is available, you can use one of the following methods.

Option number 2. With a magnetic tablet compass.

For this method, you will need a compass with a transparent bulb, on which lines parallel to each other are drawn, located in the north-south direction. The algorithm is the following:

The card is placed on a flat surface.
The point from which the azimuth will be plotted is marked.
The second point is selected, which you need to come to, leaving the first, or simply the necessary direction of movement.
The compass is applied with a side frame to the first and second points, or simply located along the line of the intended movement. It is important that the lower part of the compass is located closer to the first point, otherwise the back azimuth will be measured, which we will talk about a little later.
The compass bulb rotates until the lines drawn on it become parallel to one of the vertical lines of the kilometer grid. In this case, the northern part of the compass bulb should be directed towards the northern end of the kilometer line.
After everything is done, the compass pointer will show the bearing angle. This value can be converted to true or magnetic azimuth for ease of further use.

Partly due to the simplicity of this method, it is the tablet compass that is recommended for tourists.

This option is convenient for use in almost any situation, since it is independent of the readings of the magnetic compass needle, which is affected by magnetic deviations, which will be discussed a little later. However, it can only be used when magnetic declination data is available. If there is no such data, you can use the following method.

Option number 3. With a magnetic tablet compass and an oriented map.

Before describing this method, it is worth explaining what the phrase "oriented map" means.

To orient a map means to place it on a horizontal surface so that its north frame points strictly to geographical north. This can be done with a compass if the magnetic declination is known. However, we will consider the option when such data is not available.

In this case, it is possible to orient the map to the cardinal points using a landmark marked on the map and visible on the ground, provided that it is known where the person orienting the map is at the moment.

Consider step by step the whole process of orienting the map:

The map is horizontal.
A ruler is placed on the map in such a way that one of its sides “touches” simultaneously the landmark indicated on the map and the point at which the person is located, for example, a crossroads.
The map is located at eye level so that the point of standing of a person on the map is closer to the eye, and the landmark is farther away.
A person with a map and a ruler lying on it turns so that the ruler is directed to a landmark visible on the ground - the landmark to which the ruler was attached to the designation. At this point, we can say that the map is oriented to the cardinal points.

Now let's go directly to the description of the algorithm for determining the azimuth:

The map is oriented to the cardinal points and is located strictly in a horizontal plane so that the compass needle can subsequently rotate freely inside the bulb.
A magnetic tablet compass is applied to the map so that its side frame is in contact with the person's standing point and the landmark in relation to which you need to find the azimuth. Here the rules are the same as in the previous version: the lower part of the compass should be closer to the person's standing point.
The compass bulb rotates until the north end of the needle points to the designation of north on the bulb, that is, 0 ° or 360 °, which is essentially the same thing.
From now on, the compass pointer will show the magnetic azimuth, which, if necessary, can be converted to true.

The main disadvantage of this method is the dependence on magnetic deviations and movement. So, for example, it will not be possible to use this method in a car or on a ship.

Back azimuth

For the convenience of moving around the terrain during orientation, the concept of back azimuth is often used. This direction is diametrically opposite to the "direct" azimuth, that is, it differs from it by 180 degrees.

Back bearing, if necessary, allows you to return to the place where the movement was started, and can also be used when avoiding obstacles.

Imagine that a person is moving due north. In order for it to move in reverse azimuth, it must turn 180 degrees. And it makes no difference whether he makes a turn clockwise or counterclockwise: the direction of the reverse azimuth will, for obvious reasons, remain the same. That is, specifically for the case under consideration, the reverse azimuth will be the direction of movement due south.

How to determine the azimuth on the ground

On the ground, using a compass, you can determine the azimuth to a selected direction or object (landmark), or vice versa - using a known azimuth, for example, found on a map, determine the direction on the ground. Let's consider both options.

Task number 1. It is necessary to determine the magnetic azimuth to the object (landmark).

In this case, the compass is located in the direction of the landmark. To more accurately set the compass in relation to the landmark, some models have a front sight and a rear sight, as well as a mirror with a slot.

After that, the compass bulb rotates until the north end of the arrow points to the north designation on the bulb (usually "N" or "C"). The compass pointer will then show the bearing to the selected object.

Task number 2. It is necessary, knowing the magnetic azimuth, to determine the direction on the ground.

To do this, the compass bulb is rotated until the pointer indicates on the scale of the bulb the number corresponding to the value of the magnetic azimuth. After that, the compass rotates in a horizontal plane until the north side of the arrow coincides with the north symbol on the bulb. Once this has happened, it can be argued that the compass indicates the desired direction, that is, it is located along it.

If you need to determine the reverse azimuth using a compass, then it is not necessary to do arithmetic, subtracting or adding 180 degrees to the known azimuth. It is much more convenient and easier to simply choose the direction of movement by turning the compass so that its south side is in place of the north side of the arrow.

Emergency azimuth

An emergency azimuth is a direction to some linear (for example, a highway or railway) or areal (for example, a settlement) landmark, measured in order to reach this landmark in case a person gets lost.

The emergency azimuth cannot be measured to a point landmark (for example, a well or a forester's house), since it is unlikely that it will be possible to reach such a landmark if necessary due to its small size.

The emergency azimuth is determined before entering the route, for example, before entering the forest. To do this, a person becomes facing the landmark and measures the azimuth to it using a compass, after which he writes down the resulting value, for example, on a piece of paper that he hides in his pocket.

But don't rely entirely on the note. For reinsurance, it is also better to remember the obtained values.

After the emergency azimuth has been determined, recorded and stored in memory, you can go on the route.

On a note

When determining the emergency azimuth, it should be remembered that a linear object can turn and change direction - a river can make a bend, a road can turn, a power line also has its own angles. There is a risk that, having taken an emergency azimuth before entering the route, a person will shift significantly relative to such a turn, and if it is necessary to enter the highway or to the river, then he will follow the azimuth parallel to the most linear object behind its turn. Therefore, before entering the route, you need to study the map of the area, the direction of linear landmarks and scales. If a road or river stretches approximately in one direction for tens of kilometers, and the route is planned for only 2-3 kilometers, this information is not significant. If we are talking about a hiking group on a route of several hundred kilometers, the terrain and landmarks must first be studied very carefully.

If for some reason a person gets lost, and the use of various methods did not help him get back to the previous route, then he can use the emergency azimuth, moving along which sooner or later will be near the landmark on which the emergency azimuth was taken. And already moving along this landmark, a person will be able to get to the place where he started his journey.

Drawing up a route of movement in azimuth

Having a map of the area available, it is often possible to do without the use of azimuths when planning a route, for example, if paths, roads and clearings are visible on the map. In this case, usually the movement towards the goal is carried out along them.

However, there are situations when azimuths are indispensable, for example, when crossing a desert or a wild wooded area. Consider the algorithm of actions in such situations.

In order to quickly and accurately reach a given goal, it is very desirable to build a route on the map. It is important to understand that going straight ahead can lead to a big mistake, which means that a person can simply miss the target, especially if you have to navigate in areas with reduced visibility, for example, in a forest.

In order to reduce this error, it is better to divide the entire path into segments of shorter length, connecting landmarks along the path to the goal. Thus, approaching each landmark, a person will correct his movement, eliminating the error that occurs when moving from one landmark to another.

A path with transitions between many landmarks will be somewhat longer, since a broken line connecting two extreme points is always longer than a straight line. However, the error will also be significantly reduced, which is very important in some situations.

To plan a "broken" route:

The map shows the exit point to the route.
There is a landmark lying in the direction of travel.
From the first point, the azimuth and distance to the middle of the found landmark are measured.
Near this landmark, the azimuth and length of the path are indicated.
Now the whole procedure is repeated, but the edge of the found landmark is taken as the starting point, from where the movement to the middle of the next landmark will be performed.
At the end, from the last landmark on the way, the azimuth and distance to the target are measured and also signed.

If desired, the measured distance can be converted into pairs of steps and write numbers next to each landmark. But this only makes sense if a person knows the length of his pair of steps.

Walking in azimuth

Some people believe that you need to walk in azimuth by constantly holding the compass in front of you and constantly monitoring its readings. However, this method of walking, contrary to expectations, will give a large error and will require more time compared to the method that will be discussed later.

To reduce the error, you should use the following algorithm of actions:

With the help of a compass, at a given azimuth, a landmark is located on the ground (for example, a tree, a bush, some feature of the relief or a building). The further this landmark is located, the less actions will have to be performed, and the more accurate the result will be.
The person goes to the chosen landmark. At the same time, it does not matter how exactly he will approach the landmark, the main thing is not to lose the chosen landmark and not confuse it with others. This is convenient, because sometimes difficult obstacles (for example, thorny thickets or windbreaks) lie along a straight road to the landmark, so it’s easier and faster to get around them than trying to move straight ahead.
Approaching the landmark, the person should stand behind it and repeat the operation with the compass, selecting a new landmark.

Sometimes, in the absence of natural landmarks, one of the participants in the hike can act as a guide. To do this, he goes in the direction in which the person working with the compass points. When the “living landmark” has moved a sufficient distance, the person with the compass gestures to the assistant where exactly he should be in order to be exactly on the direction line determined by the azimuth. Further, everything is done as if it were necessary to work with local landmarks.

If, on the way to the chosen landmark, there is an obstacle, for example, a steep hill, because of which it is impossible to see the next landmark and which you cannot climb, then you can use one of two schemes.

Scheme No. 1. Simplified.

This is the simplest algorithm of actions that allows you to get back on the same path, bypassing the obstacle. For this:

At some distance from the obstacle, the direction of its bypass is selected and the azimuth of this direction is measured. Suppose the azimuth is 60 degrees.
The difference between the azimuth of the main direction of movement (assume that the movement was made along the azimuth of 105 degrees) and the azimuth of the selected direction is determined. It turns out that the obstacle is bypassed from the left, and the difference in the initial direction and the direction of the bypass is 105 - 60 = 45 degrees.
The person begins to move along the azimuth of 45 degrees, counting the steps, and moves until he sees the end of the obstacle on the right.
The azimuth of the direction of return to the previous path is calculated. To do this, the previously calculated difference is added to the azimuth of the main direction, that is, 105 + 45 = 150 degrees.
The person starts walking in a new direction with an azimuth of 150 degrees and counts the steps.
When this number of steps matches the number of steps taken during the offset from the main path, the movement continues along the azimuth of the main direction (for this case - 105 degrees).

In this scheme, it is also possible that, having shifted to the side, a person does not immediately return to the previous path, but travels some distance along the main azimuth before that. This may be necessary if the obstruction is extended along the main direction.

Scheme No. 2. To account for the distance travelled.

This is a more complex scheme that allows you to bypass obstacles while counting the total number of steps. Thus, the number of counted steps after going around the obstacle will be equal to the number of steps, as if there were no obstacle at all, and the person was moving directly.

For this schema:

At some distance from the obstacle, the azimuth of the bypass direction is measured. Suppose that it will be the same as in the previous scheme, that is, equal to 60 degrees.
The person moves in that direction and counts the steps.
After the obstacle “ends” on the right side, the person begins to move in the original direction (let it be 105 degrees, as in the previous case) and counts the steps. The steps calculated while moving along the main direction (105 degrees) are added to those that were calculated before the start of the obstacle bypass.
After some time, a person chooses a new direction - the opposite azimuth to the direction in which the obstacle was bypassed. For this case: 60 + 180 = 240 degrees.
The person moves in a new direction (240 degrees) and counts the steps. In this direction, a person must move until the counted number of steps coincides with the number of steps taken in the direction with an azimuth of 60 degrees.
Once the required number of steps have been taken, the person finds the direction of the original movement (105 degrees) and continues to move along it, adding steps to those taken in that direction earlier.

In this way, various obstacles can be bypassed. However, in some cases, difficulties may arise, mainly related to the characteristics of the terrain.

For example, it may happen that bypassing an obstacle at the beginning will be done on terrain with a lot of ups and downs, and then on flat terrain. In this case, with the same number of steps, when leaving the main direction of movement and returning to it, a person will cover a different distance, which means that he will move away from the original path.

Errors and their causes

The main errors that occur when orienting with a compass are mainly related to three factors - magnetic declination, magnetic deviations and compass malfunction.

The error associated with the magnetic declination appears mainly if the magnetic declination is not indicated on the map, or the person does not know how to correct for it. There are also areas of so-called magnetic anomalies, where the magnetic declination can fluctuate over a fairly wide range, which complicates the task of orientation.

In some situations, when you have to travel long distances solely in azimuths, it makes sense to independently calculate the magnetic declination using a map and a magnetic compass.

Magnetic deviation is the deviation of the magnetic needle from the direction of the Earth's magnetic lines. Such magnetic deviations occur near various objects with magnetic properties, or due to the flow of an electric current nearby.

For example, magnetic deviations can have a noticeable effect on compass readings, leading to errors near railway tracks, inside or near vehicles, and also if the compass is near objects such as a walkie-talkie, mobile phone, knife, saw or other compass.

Compass failure is another cause of errors, and not as rare as we would like.

To check the compass for serviceability, you need to bring a magnet to the side of it - the arrow will deviate to the side. After the magnet is removed, the arrow should return to its original place. After that, you should bring the magnet from the other side - the arrow will deviate in the other direction. Removing the magnet should cause the needle to return to its original position. If the arrow does not return to its original place, then the compass can be considered faulty.

Instead of a conventional magnet in the field, it is quite possible to get by with a knife or a mobile phone, since they, to one degree or another, have magnetic properties sufficient for testing a compass.

All these nuances must be taken into account in order to obtain the most correct compass readings, because it also depends on whether a person goes to a given point or misses it.

What compass to take on a hike

To date, a wide variety of compasses are known. For tourists and other outdoor enthusiasts, magnetic compasses and compass simulators for phones are the most suitable. The former show the direction of the Earth's magnetic lines, and the work of the latter is based on determining coordinates using satellite navigation systems.

“Compass” programs for phones do not respond to magnetic deviations and magnetic declination does not matter to them - they always show the direction to the geographical (true) north and south. These programs may have a number of features that allow them to be used faster, more efficiently and more comfortably than magnetic compasses. But these programs also have their drawbacks:

the phone may be discharged, which means that you will not be able to use the program installed on the phone;
the program may “fail”, and due to the lack of the Internet, it may not be possible to download it again and reinstall it;
underground (for example, in caves), these programs will also not work, since the signal from the satellites will not be able to get underground.

Unlike programs for phones, conventional magnetic compasses are more suitable for most situations in which a tourist or a person who has experienced an emergency far from civilization may find himself, because:

able to work for years and do not require recharging;
work even underground, as they are independent of satellites;
can be made from improvised means.

All this makes them reliable companions not only for tourists, but also for military personnel.

But even among ordinary magnetic compasses there are many models that differ not only in appearance and size, but also in structure. Which compass to choose from all this variety?

Of all the variety of magnetic compasses, I could recommend tablet liquid models with a transparent bulb, the presence of a rear sight, a front sight, a mirror and a tilt measurement function. It is desirable that the key symbols on such a compass be painted with glow-in-the-dark paint. Such compasses have a number of advantages over other models:

tablet models are more convenient to use when working with a map;
in liquid models, in comparison with the same Adrianov compass, the arrow stabilizes faster, which means that work with it is faster;
the presence of a rear sight, a front sight and a mirror makes it possible to make measurements more accurately;
the mirror can be used for its intended purpose, for example, to independently remove a foreign body from the eye, as well as a signal mirror for signaling an overflying aircraft or a passing ship;
the function of determining the angle of inclination can help in a number of tasks, for example, to approximately determine the latitude of the area in which the person is located;
glowing in the dark signs make it possible to navigate in the dark, if for some reason it is not possible to use a flashlight.

Many models of compasses with luminous elements contain a special paint that first absorbs light from extraneous sources (such as sunlight or lantern light), and then itself emits light in the visible spectrum. The light from such models is initially clearly visible, but after some time it dims and can only be recognized by eyes accustomed to darkness. Thus, elements painted with a composition containing strontium aluminate lose about 90% of their brightness in the first 60 minutes.

In other, as a rule, more expensive models of compasses, tritium chambers coated with a phosphor are used as luminous elements. Tritium, decaying, excites the atoms of the phosphor, which, passing from the excited state to the normal state, emit light. Such compasses glow in complete darkness without "recharging" from extraneous light sources, and completely "run out of steam" after more than a dozen years, although, of course, their brightness gradually decreases over the course of their service life. It is also important to note here that, despite the fears of people, such compasses are safe for health.

Tritium illuminated compass - easy to read even in the dark.

It is not necessary to buy an expensive compass. In most cases, an inexpensive, working compass that meets some or all of the above criteria will suffice.

Summing up all of the above, it is easy to see that the ability to determine the azimuth on the map and on the ground, as well as the ability to move along it correctly, is one of the basic skills necessary for orientation. It also becomes clear that without a working compass, such a skill will be of little use.

Therefore, in order to confidently navigate and minimize the risk of getting lost in unfamiliar terrain, you should follow two recommendations: practice orientation more often and work with azimuths in particular, and every time before going on a route, check the compass is working, and preferably two - main and spare.

Compass and azimuth.

Surely, you have heard more than once about the true and magnetic azimuth. They are radically different from each other, and therefore you need to navigate in a particular area, given these differences. You will need this so that you do not encounter the following problem in the future - when a point on the map indicated using a compass will have completely different indicators than those obtained using the map.

What is magnetic and true azimuth in geography?

The angle located between the north direction and the one that is at a certain point is the azimuth. The north direction is the one that is directed directly to the North Pole. However, the path pointing north on the compass, of course, is considered only the direction indicating the magnetic pole. But this is not a geographic location at all. Therefore, speaking about the true pole, we are talking about the geographical, which is directly related to the shape of our planet. Plus, it is also connected with the axis of rotation of the Earth, which passes through 2 poles.

The magnetic pole is closely related to the magnetic field of our Earth, which has 2 poles. This field does not coincide with the true poles of the planet, just as the fields corresponding to them do not coincide with the meridians: neither with the true nor with the magnetic ones.

Having laid one or another direction between the meridians, which will directly touch the object of the selected area, then the angle between these meridians will turn out to be the true azimuth, as well as magnetic, respectively. The difference between these azimuths is called magnetic declination. This declination can have several names, it all depends on which direction of the world it is more inclined to.

Leaning to the east means east declination
Leaning to the west means western declination

The declination going to the east is indicated by a plus, but to the east by a minus.

How to determine the azimuth using a compass?

To learn how to navigate correctly in a particular area and get the necessary direction, you need to calculate the azimuth using a compass. This is done very simply:

Take the compass in your left palm, lay it horizontally. Use your right hand to release the brake that holds the needle on the compass. Start rotating the compass so that the north tip of the needle points to "0" of the scale. Then turn the ring with the sight so that the line of sight coincides with the distant object and with the one that is clearly visible. Count the required number of divisions of the magnetic azimuth to this particular element. Take a count from the “0” indicator, move as the hour hand moves until you get to the number that is opposite the sight and its pointer.

Align the pointer of the sight with the pointer to the given object. Perform this manipulation several times: first look at the pointer of the sight, then look at the pointer of the object, do the process in reverse. Remember an important point: in no case should the compass be brought to the face, and especially to the eyes, since the accuracy of future azimuth measurements may deteriorate. Use a special compass, for example, Andrianov's compass. This way you will get more accurate results.
If you will only move in the opposite direction from the selected object, then try to calculate the back azimuth. Direct azimuth readings are less than 180 degrees, plus 180 degrees. But, and if these indicators are greater than this mark, then 180 degrees are subtracted.
To determine the indicated direction using the old azimuth values, it is necessary to rotate the reticle ring: the reticle pointer is aligned with the indication located on the scale, which is equal to the previously set azimuth value. After that, the arrow brake on the compass is removed, its body rotates until the northern edge of the arrow points to the “0” number. The pointer of the sight will show the required course.

How to determine the azimuth using a protractor on a topographic map?

Azimuth starts at 0 and moves clockwise to 360 degrees. That is, from the northern mark of the magnetic meridian to a given point.

If you need to move exactly according to the compass, you need to indicate the azimuth values \u200b\u200bon the map. This technique is used by aircraft and sea vessels that make long-distance flights or voyages. This method is also used by travelers during poor visibility, for example, at night, if there is no chance at all to move along a special landmark.

For the correct definition, take:

Travel map
Compass
Simple pencil with ruler
Protractor

Mark your own location on your map. Try to navigate by the signs that are on the map.
Find a landmark where exactly you should go. Rectilinear movement can be carried out exclusively by air or by sea. There is truth and exceptions on land - it is a desert or a steppe. As a rule, on the ground, movement occurs along a broken line, while all natural obstacles are taken into account. Therefore, you will have to regularly correct the azimuth while moving.
Put a ruler on the map so that your location and final destination are on this ruler. Draw a strip with a simple pencil until it intersects with the nearest meridian. Attach the base of your own protractor to this strip. Draw the risk, which is located in the central part, to the place where it intersects with the drawn strip - the direction should look at the landmark. From the arc of the protractor where it intersects with that strip, take the readings. Your azimuth is ready.

How to determine the azimuth from the coordinates of two points?

Determining the coordinates located between one point and another point is very simple. Draw a meridian from the starting point. This meridian should be parallel to the east frame or the west frame on the paper. Relative to this meridian, the azimuth is calculated. Since drawing a meridian is not so easy, then first you need to determine the directional angle of the direction that you want to calculate.

To measure the directional angle of the resulting line, it is necessary to draw a strip through the first point that is parallel to the abscissa axis, and then measure the directional angle. And you can still lay a strip to the place where it intersects with the coordinate strip. Where there will be an intersection, you need to measure the directional angle.

What is the difference between azimuth and directional angle?

The directional angle is measured using a protractor, as well as using a route map. Magnetic bearing is measured using a compass and terrain. If we take the true azimuth, then it is calculated due to two main elements:

The first is the magnetic azimuth
The second is magnetic declination.

In what units is the azimuth value measured?

As it was written above, the azimuth is measured in degrees and can start from the indicator "0" and end with the indicator "360".

Determine: what directions of the sides of the horizon correspond to the azimuths of the southeast, northeast and northwest directions?

Southeast equals 135 degrees

Northeast equals 45 degrees

Northwest equals 315 degrees

Which side of the horizon corresponds to the azimuth of 90 and 180 degrees?

90 degrees is east azimuth

180 degrees is south azimuth

Orientation of movement on the ground in azimuths: orientation angles

To orient a line means to calculate where exactly it is directed relative to the initial direction. For example, due to the meridians or the x-axis.

The angle, which is calculated on a special scale in the direction of the hour hand, is the azimuth
The angle that starts the calculation from the north point to the final (given) point - magnetic azimuth
The angle located between the northern indicator of the meridian and the extreme (final) indicator is the directional angle