On regional geomagnetic charts

When regional geomagnetic charts for areas roughly the size of the United States were compiled by hand, some large local anomalies were displayed in the isomagnetic lines. Since the late nineteen sixties, when the compilation of charts using computers and mathematical models was started, most of the details available in the hand drawn regional charts have been lost. One exception to this is the Canadian magnetic declination chart for 1980. This chart was constructed using a 180 degree spherical harmonic model. It managed to show considerable detail, but even more detail might be useful. Suggestions are made about how more detail might be displayed in regional charts when adequate data are available.