Which navigational risk increased when 18th-century chronometer manufacturing tolerances shifted inconsistently with temperature?

💡 Explanation

When timekeeping accuracy varies with temperature, thermal expansion affects pendulum length or balance spring dimensions which alters its rate, leading to increasing longitudinal position errors during voyages as the east-west position depends on keeping accurate time. Therefore position errors are likely, rather than latitude given sun altitude, drift as measured without reliance on the clock, or compass errors which are independent.

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