What factor can impact the effectiveness of dead reckoning?

The effectiveness of dead reckoning significantly relies on accurate calculations and plotting. Dead reckoning is a navigation technique that determines the current position based on a previously determined position, using speed, time, and direction traveled. If calculations related to distance, speed, and direction are precise, the resulting position estimate will be more reliable. Furthermore, detailed and accurate plotting on a navigation chart ensures that navigators can track their movement correctly, which is essential for accurate navigation over distances, particularly when visual landmarks are absent or unclear.

Other factors, such as weather patterns, fuel efficiency, or flight altitude, can influence navigation in general but do not directly affect the core process of dead reckoning. For example, while adverse weather conditions could complicate navigation, they do not alter the essential concept of how dead reckoning functions, which is based on precise calculations and their graphical representation.