Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Roberts, A.P.
• Turner, G.M.

Titel

Geomagnetic Excursions and Secular Variations

Ist Teil von

• Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, 2013, Vol.1, p.705-720

Auflage

Second Edition

Ort / Verlag

Elsevier B.V

Erscheinungsjahr

2013

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The Earth's magnetic field varies on a range of timescales that are useful for dating Quaternary rocks and sediments. Decadal- to millennial-scale geomagnetic variations can provide precise age constraints through paleomagnetic identification of paleosecular variations (most useful in the Holocene), relative paleointensity variations (useful throughout the Quaternary), geomagnetic excursions (generally most useful for stratigraphic correlation when accompanied by additional chronological constraints), and polarity reversals (useful between 2.59 and 0.78Ma). These geomagnetic variations can generally provide chronological precision to within a few ka (or better). Paleomagnetism is therefore a key Quaternary dating technique.