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← HistoryWhich navigational error increased until compensated using chronometers during 18th-century transoceanic voyages using sextants, where cloud cover limited star sights?
A)Cumulative estimation of celestial angles✓
B)Increased atmospheric refraction calculation errors
C)Magnetic compass declination changes
D)Instrumental sextant manufacturing precision limits
💡 Explanation
Cumulative position error increased because dead reckoning relied on estimating speed and direction, therefore positional uncertainty grew with distance traveled and limited sightings rather than refraction change, because estimation errors accumulate, rather than compass/instrumental errors.
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