Grid north serves as the reference for which azimuth measurement?

Grid north serves as the reference for which azimuth measurement?

• A. Grid north
• B. Magnetic north
• C. True north
• D. Ocean north

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how azimuths are referenced. An azimuth is a direction measured from a specific north line. Magnetic north is the direction that a compass points, i.e., the reference for magnetic bearings. Grid north, by contrast, is the direction of the map’s grid lines, and true north is geographic north. Ocean north isn’t a standard reference. If you’re measuring an azimuth with a compass or referring to magnetic bearings, you’re using magnetic north as the reference. That’s why magnetic north is the best answer here: it’s the reference for a magnetic azimuth, whereas grid north would be used for grid bearings on a map and true north for geographic bearings. When you need to convert between grid and magnetic azimuths, you account for the grid–magnetic angle between those two norths.

The key idea is how azimuths are referenced. An azimuth is a direction measured from a specific north line. Magnetic north is the direction that a compass points, i.e., the reference for magnetic bearings. Grid north, by contrast, is the direction of the map’s grid lines, and true north is geographic north. Ocean north isn’t a standard reference. If you’re measuring an azimuth with a compass or referring to magnetic bearings, you’re using magnetic north as the reference. That’s why magnetic north is the best answer here: it’s the reference for a magnetic azimuth, whereas grid north would be used for grid bearings on a map and true north for geographic bearings. When you need to convert between grid and magnetic azimuths, you account for the grid–magnetic angle between those two norths.