Geomagnetic Secular Variation Research Articles

Reply to Comment by Dario Bilardello on “New late Pennsylvanian Paleomagnetic Results From Paraná Basin (southern Brazil): Is the Recent Giant Gaussian Process Model Valid for the Kiaman Superchron?”

AbstractIn this response, we address the comments by D. Bilardello on the paper by Brandt et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016968). His main point is that the Mafra rhythmites are remagnetized as are supposed to be all Paleozoic sediments in the Paraná Basin in the context of a widespread Jurassic‐Cretaceous remagnetization in South America. In this way, the obtained results are not suitable for investigations of the paleosecular variation models. The authors do not agree with his conclusions and present counterevidence to support the approach and the conclusions of Brandt et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016968).

Pleistocene ignimbrites of western Armenia - Paleomagnetic and magnetic anisotropy constraints on flow direction and stratigraphy

Voluminous early to middle Pleistocene pyroclastic flow deposits were generated from Mount Aragats (Aragats Volcanic Province, AVP), one of the largest volcanoes in the Arabia-Eurasia continental collision zone. Here we report paleomagnetic results, in combination with anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) analysis, from 31 outcrops belonging to six ignimbrite units of the western part of the AVP (covering an area of more than 5000 km2). Paleomagnetic directional analysis of samples from 26 outcrops of the three younger ignimbrite units yields a well-defined normal polarity direction of D = 339.2°, I = 55.7°, k = 278.4 and α95 = 1.7°. The virtual coincidence of paleomagnetic directions points to an emplacement of the units within a restricted time of similar geomagnetic secular variation (i.e., few hundred years). However, new isotope 40Ar/39Ar ages of the three units suggest two separated events at ~0.65 and ~ 0.75 Ma. The possibility of similar paleomagnetic directions at 0.65 and 0.75 Ma or the occurrence of a widespread remagnetization event at 0.65 Ma cannot be fully excluded, but both scenarios are highly unlikely. In contrast to that, five sites from the three older units show reversed magnetic polarity, which implies an age of emplacement older than the last magnetic polarity reversal at ~780 ka. This agrees with recent 40Ar/39Ar ages of the three older units at ~0.93 Ma. The paleomagnetic scatter of the older units is high compared to the younger ones. Even if paleomagnetic directions and radiometric age are similar, available data cannot unequivocally indicate if the three older units were generated from the same or three different eruptions. The high quality AMS data result in three different types of fabric (lineated, foliated and undetermined) that are all commonly observed in the studied pyroclastic deposits. Accordingly, we use lineation, tilt of foliation, or both for the determination of paleoflow direction. Results reveal a radial flow pattern surrounding Mt. Aragats, which is, however, highly influenced by topographic features, such as valleys, even in proximity of the eruption center.

Paleomagnetic observations from lake sediments on Samosir Island, Toba caldera, Indonesia, and its late Pleistocene resurgence

AbstractApproximately 74 ka, Toba caldera in Sumatra, Indonesia, erupted in one of the most catastrophic supereruptions in Earth's history. Resurgent uplift of the caldera floor raised Samosir Island 700 m above Lake Toba, exposing valuable lake sediments. To constrain sediment chronology, we collected 173 discrete paleomagnetic 8 cm3 cubes and 15 radiocarbon samples from six sections across the island. Bulk organic 14C ages provide an initial chronostratigraphic framework ranging from ~12 to 46 ka. Natural and laboratory magnetizations were studied using alternating field demagnetization. A generally well-defined primary magnetization is isolated using principal component analysis. Comparison of inclination, and to a lesser degree declination, across independently dated sections suggests paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) is recorded. Average inclination of −6° is more negative than a geocentric axial dipole would predict, but consistent with an eastward extension of the negative inclination anomaly observed in the western equatorial Pacific. The 14C- and PSV-derived age model constrains resurgent uplift, confirming faster uplift rates to the east and slower rates to the west, while suggesting that fault blocks moved differentially from each other within a generally trapdoor-type configuration.

Late Miocene to late Pleistocene geomagnetic secular variation at high northern latitudes

SUMMARYWe report a palaeomagnetic study of Icelandic lavas of late Miocene to late Pliocene age to test the geocentric axial dipole hypothesis at high northern latitudes. Cores were sampled from 125 sites in the Fljótsdalur valley in eastern Iceland, and hand samples were taken for 17 new incremental heating 40Ar/39Ar age determinations. 96 per cent of the cores were oriented using both a Brunton compass and a sun compass. Comparison of the magnetic and sun azimuths reveals deviations of ±5°, ±10° and ±20°, respectively, for 42, 16 and 3 per cent of the data points, indicating that core sampling intended for palaeosecular variation (PSV) studies at high northern latitudes should be oriented by sun. A total of 1279 independent specimens were subjected to AF- and thermal-demagnetization for palaeodirectional analysis, and well-grouped site mean directions were obtained for 123 sites of which 113 were found to be independent sites. Applying a selection criteria of k > 50 and N ≥ 5 (Nmean = 9.5), we obtain a combined grand mean direction for 46 normal and 53 reverse (for VGPlat > ±45°) polarity sites of declination = 5.6° and inclination = 77.5° that is not significantly different from that expected from a GAD field. The corresponding palaeomagnetic pole position (VGPlat = 86.3°N, VGPlon = 21.2°E, dp/dm = 4.0°/4.3°) is coincident with the North Pole within the 95 per cent confidence limits. An updated age model is constructed based on the 40Ar/39Ar ages, showing that the majority of the Fljótsdalur lavas fall within 2–7 Ma. We combine the Fljótsdalur data with existing data from the nearby Jökuldalur valley. The 154 palaeodirections are well-dispersed between 1 and 7 Ma and constitute a high-quality data set for PSV analysis. Our results partly support previous conclusions of a generally higher dispersion during reverse polarity intervals. However, when comparing our Matutayma data with Brunhes age data from Jan Mayen, we find no evidence of a higher VGP scatter during the Matuyama as previously suggested. When comparing our VGP scatter to the two commonly used models for VGP dispersion: Model G and TK03, we find a good fit for all 1–7 Ma VGP scatter data SB(1–7) to Model G, whereas SB(1–7) is not fitted by TK03, even when considering the uncertainty of SB(1–7). We also find that all VGP scatter estimates, except that for the Gilbert subset, are consistent with Model G, while the discrepancy with TK03 is generally larger.

First archaeointensity reference paleosecular variation curve for South America and its implications for geomagnetism and archaeology – Corrigendum

First archaeointensity reference paleosecular variation curve for South America and its implications for geomagnetism and archaeology – Corrigendum

Analysis of geomagnetic field intensity variations in Mesopotamia during the third millennium BC with archeological implications

We present new archeointensity results obtained at two multi-layer archeological sites, Tell Atij and Tell Gudeda (northeastern Syria), dated from the Early Bronze Period in the third millennium BC. The archeointensity data were obtained using the experimental protocol developed for the Triaxe magnetometer. In total, 68 fragments (204 specimens) of 151 fragments analyzed passed our selection criteria, allowing average intensity values to be estimated for 14 archeological layers, nine at Tell Atij and five at Tell Gudeda. Based on the available archeological constraints, the different archeological layers of Tell Atij and Tell Gudeda were dated between ∼2900 BC and ∼2600 BC and between ∼2550 BC and ∼2325 BC, respectively. The Tell Atij data show a significant increase in intensity over the dated period, while the results from Tell Gudeda exhibit a V-shape evolution. Using high-quality data available from Syria, the Levant and Turkey, a regional geomagnetic field intensity variation curve spanning the entire third millennium BC was constructed using a trans-dimensional Bayesian method. It clearly shows two intensity peaks, around 2600 BC and at ∼2300 BC, associated with variation rates of ∼0.1-0.2 μT/yr. This indicates that the occurrence of century-scale intensity peaks with rates of variation comparable to or even slightly higher than the maximum rates observed in the modern geomagnetic field is an ubiquitous feature of the geomagnetic secular variation. From an archeological point of view, the new archeointensity data strengthen the hypothesis that the successive occupation of Tell Atij and Tell Gudeda was synchronous with the two first urban phases of Mari, making possible a sustained trade network between these settlements during the third millennium BC. We further suggest that the end of Mari's first urban phase, contemporaneous with the abandonment of Tell Atij, might have been caused by a regional drought episode around 2600 BC. More generally, the Bayesian approach used to estimate the new reference intensity variation curve offers promising chronological constraints for archeological purposes.

Paleomagnetic secular variation records from Holocene sediments of Lake Victoria (0.5°S, 33.3°E)

We have conducted a paleomagnetic study of Holocene sediments from Lake Victoria in order to develop a high-resolution record of paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV). This study has recovered PSV records from two cores (V95-1P and V95-7P) in northern Lake Victoria (0.5°S). The PSV is recorded in fine-grained detrital magnetite/titanomagnetite grains, but the rock magnetic data suggest that significant magnetic mineral dissolution has occurred, which limits our paleomagnetic studies to the uppermost ~5 m of both cores. Detailed alternating field (af) demagnetization of the natural remanence (NRM) shows that a distinctive characteristic remanence (ChRM) is demagnetized from ~10 to 40 mT, which decreases simply toward the origin. The resulting directional PSV records for 1P and 7P are correlatable with 22 distinct inclination features and 19 declination features. Radiocarbon dating of the cores is based on eight radiocarbon dates from core 1P, which can be correlated into core 7P using both the PSV and rock magnetic/environmental measurements. The final PSV time series cover the last 11,000 years with an average sediment accumulation rate of ~40 cm/kyr. The Lake Victoria PSV records can be correlated with new PSV records from Lake Malawi. Comparison of the correlatable PSV feature ages between the two lakes indicates that the PSV records are not significantly different in age, although Lake Victoria PSV ages might average ~100 years younger. We think that the Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi PSV records, together, provide the most accurate, well-dated, and consistent record of Holocene PSV for Africa yet developed.

Two archaeomagnetic intensity maxima and rapid directional variation rates during the Early Iron Age observed at Iberian coordinates. Implications on the evolution of the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly

Variations of geomagnetic field in the Iberian Peninsula prior to Late Iron Age times are poorly constrained. Here we report 14 directional and 10 palaeointensity results from an archaeomagnetic study carried out on 17 combustion structures recovered from six archaeological sites in eastern Spain. The studied materials have been dated by archaeological evidences and supported by radiocarbon dates (8th-5th centuries BC). Rock magnetic experiments indicate that the characteristic remanent magnetization is carried by a low coercivity magnetic phase with Curie temperatures of 500-575°C, most likely titanomagnetite/maghemite with low titanium content. Archaeointensity determinations were carried out by using the classical Thellier-Thellier experiment including pTRM-checks and magnetic anisotropy corrections. A new full vector Iberian Paleosecular Variation Curve for the Iron Age is presented. High fluctuation rates on both directions and intensities are observed during the Early Iron times that seems to be related with the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly (LIAA), the most prominent anomaly of the geomagnetic field of the last three millennia. Two intensity maxima were observed at Iberian coordinates, the oldest around 750 BC (associated with easterly declinations of around 23°) and the second 275 yrs later (475 BC) with northerly directions. The related virtual axial dipole moment was up to 14⋅1022 Am2 for the oldest materials (750 BC) and reaching 16⋅1022 Am2 for the materials corresponding to the end of the Early Iron Age.In order to investigate the origin of the unusually high fluctuations of the palaeofield we have developed a new global geomagnetic field reconstruction, the SHAWQ-IronAge model, which is based on a critical revision of the global archeomagnetic and volcanic dataset. The new model provides an improved description of the evolution of the LIAA, which is related to a normal flux patch at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) below Arabian Peninsula clearly observed at around 950 BC. This flux patch expanded towards the north-west, while decreasing in intensity, reaching Iberia at around 750 BC. Around 600-500 BC, it underwent a revival below the European continent after that it seems to vanish in situ.

A refined age calibrated paleosecular variation and relative paleointensity stack for the NW Barents Sea: Implication for geomagnetic field behavior during the Holocene

Reconstruction of Paleomagnetic Secular Variation (PSV) of the geomagnetic field is fundamental both to assess geodynamo models and to obtain age constraints for rocks, sediments and archaeological material. We present refined age-calibrated Holocene PSV and relative paleointensity (RPI) stack curves derived from Arctic marine sediments (Northwestern Barents Sea). The Holocene sections of four sedimentary cores were correlated on the basis of paleomagnetic trends and age models, and stacked. The resultant composite PSV and RPI Holocene records (NBS stack) and the reconstructed Holocene Virtual Geomagnetic Pole (VGP) path were evaluated in comparison with the most recent paleomagnetic stack curves and geomagnetic field models. The data indicate that during the Holocene time, the VGPs moved within the superficial projection of the inner core tangent cylinder, with the exception of short time intervals around 5600 and 3200 cal yr BP when VGPs extended to lower latitudes. These deviations might reflect regional geomagnetic features, such as persistent geomagnetic flux lobes at core-mantle boundary. Our data confirm that the large VGP shift observed around 5600 cal yr BP is the result of an increased radial magnetic field at the core-mantle boundary over North America, whilst the VGP shift around 3200 cal yr BP represents a major swing to middle latitudes toward the Middle East and might be associated to a regional high paleointensity peak, known as Levantine Iron Age Anomaly (LIAA).

One Hundred Thousand Years of Geomagnetic Field Evolution

AbstractPaleomagnetic records from sediments, archeological artifacts, and lava flows provide the foundation for studying geomagnetic field changes over 0–100 ka. Late Quaternary time‐varying spherical harmonic models for 0–100 ka produce a global view used to evaluate new data records, study the paleomagnetic secular variation on centennial to multimillennial timescales, and investigate extreme regional or global events such as the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion. Recent modeling results (GGF100k and LSMOD.2) are compared to previous studies based on regional or global stacks and averages of relative geomagnetic paleointensity variations. Time‐averaged field structure is similar on Holocene, 100 ky, and million‐year timescales. Paleosecular variation activity varies greatly over 0–100 ka, with large changes in field strength and significant morphological changes that are especially evident when field strength is low. GGF100k exhibits a factor of 4 variation in geomagnetic axial dipole moment, and higher‐resolution models suggest that much larger changes are likely during global excursions. There is some suggestion of recurrent field states resembling the present‐day South Atlantic Anomaly, but these are not linked to initiation or evolution of excursions. Several properties used to characterize numerical dynamo simulations as “Earth‐like” are evaluated and, in future, improved models may yet reveal systematic changes linked to the onset of geomagnetic excursions. Modeling results are useful in applications ranging from ground truth and data assimilation in geodynamo simulations to providing geochronological constraints and modeling the influence of geomagnetic variations on cosmogenic isotope production rates.

Uncertainty in hourly mean data from classical magnetometers

Hourly mean values obtained from analog magnetometers in what can be considered the “classical” period constitute the largest quantity of data we have on the evolution of the Earth’s magnetic field. They are used for a wide variety of applications such as estimating long-term solar–terrestrial interactions, the production of magnetic indices, or studying geomagnetic secular variation originated in the Earth’s core. However, these data do not have an associated uncertainty that would allow us to quantify the final uncertainty of the results of these models. Hence, our study tries to assess the degree of uncertainty that these data actually have. In this paper, using Ebro Observatory classical instrumentation, we work out these uncertainties by estimating the particular uncertainties of each significant variable involved in the measuring procedure. Although the study is implemented for Ebro, the method can be applied to any other observatory. We found that, in general, uncertainties vary from one magnetic component to another, depending on the nature of the instruments that were used. In each component, we identified the weakest points where the biggest part of the error resides. With our results we can state that total uncertainties ranged from 1 to 4 nT.

Introduction to the Special Collection: Magnetism in the Geosciences—Advances and Perspectives

AbstractMagnetic property research in the geosciences has seen an enormous development during the most recent decade. The underlying special collection published in two AGU journals: Journal of Geophysical Research—Solid Earth and Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems is an outcome of the 11th International Conference on Rock Magnetism, held in Utrecht (The Netherlands) in July 2017 and reflects this full breadth. We recognize four groups in which individual contributions are gathered. (1) Recent advances in fundamental rock and mineral magnetic methods, including discussions on how to assess magnetic grain size, which is centrally important to magnetic stability over geologic timescales and high‐fidelity paleomagnetic recording. (2) Geomagnetism with an emphasis on late Pleistocene paleosecular variation and relative paleointensity records, relevant to geomagnetic field models. (3) Reassessments of classic paleomagnetic field tests and examples of tectonic and magnetostratigraphic applications. (4) The merit of magnetic property analysis in solving geoscience problems, both in soft and hard rocks.

Unblocking temperature of secondary magnetic component to outline anomaly thermomagnetic maps of archaeological fireplaces from the southern region of Mexico City, Mexico

We report a magnetic study of two preceramic hearths located at the southern region of Mexico City. Thermal demagnetization was applied between 200 to 540 °C to define the remanent magnetization components. The maximum unblocking temperature of the secondary magnetic component reached due to the last heating was identified in most samples. They were used to develop thermomagnetic anomaly source maps. The direction of this component was used to place the blocks to their last cooling spot and configurate a real and primal magnetic anomaly map produced by the thermoremanent magnetization acquired. A protocol to relocate blocks frame is proposed using geomagnetic secular variation curves. The thermomagnetic mapping revealed the position and temperature (220 to 460 °C) of the last heat sources. The distribution of these sources allowed to model an extensional zone of benefit and probable uses of the hearths.

Constraints on Emplacement Rates of Intrusions in the Shallow Crust Based on Paleomagnetic Secular Variation

AbstractIn small‐volume igneous intrusions, the duration of magmatism can be difficult to determine because assembly of an intrusion from component magma pulses may occur within geochronologic uncertainties. We demonstrate that the paleomagnetic record of short‐term movement of the geomagnetic pole (secular variation) can place constraints on the duration of intrusion assembly over shorter time periods. An analysis of 14C data paired with paleomagnetic data from lava flows illustrates this approach. The flows record paleosecular variation that, when combined with the maximum rate of secular variation from the Holocene, returns a minimum time elapsed between any two flows. Data from an Oligocene laccolith indicate that this system records a minimum of 49° of secular variation and therefore took at least 750 years to be emplaced. High‐precision radiometric geochronology would be unable to resolve this assembly, suggesting that the paleosecular variation record in shallow igneous rocks contains valuable temporal constraints on upper crustal magmatism.

Magnetohydrodynamics of stably stratified regions in planets and stars

ABSTRACTStably stratified layers are present in stellar interiors (radiative zones) as well as planetary interiors – recent observations and theoretical studies of the Earth's magnetic field seem to indicate the presence of a thin, stably stratified layer at the top of the liquid outer core. We present direct numerical simulations of this region, which is modelled as an axisymmetric spherical Couette flow for a stably stratified fluid embedded in a dipolar magnetic field. For strong magnetic fields, a super-rotating shear layer, rotating nearly 30% faster than the imposed rotation rate difference between the inner convective dynamo region and the outer boundary, is generated in the stably stratified region. In the Earth context, and contrary to what was previously believed, we show that this super-rotation may extend towards the Earth magnetostrophic regime if the density stratification is sufficiently large. The corresponding differential rotation triggers magnetohydrodynamic instabilities and waves in the stratified region, which feature growth rates comparable to the observed timescale for geomagnetic secular variations and jerks. In the stellar context, we perform a linear analysis which shows that similar instabilities are likely to arise, and we argue that it may play a role in explaining the observed magnetic dichotomy among intermediate-mass stars.

Paleomagnetism and rock magnetic properties of Late Pleistocene volcanism from El Pinacate Volcanic Field, northwest Mexico

The Pinacate Volcanic Field is a Neogene volcanic sequence at the northwestern part of Mexico. This paleomagnetic study (directional and paleointensity) will continue to improve the global paleomagnetic databases. It is the first full vector paleomagnetic analysis within the more than 400 volcanic structures of the Pinacate Volcanic Field, e.g. scoria, cinder cones, large ‘pahoehoe’ and ‘aa’ lava flows. A total of 140 oriented standard paleomagnetic cores from 16 sites of lava flows were collected. Rock magnetic experiments such as thermomagnetic analyses show that Ti-poor titanomagnetite is the main magnetic carrier of the remanence. Microscopy of oxide minerals supports this observation. Parameters from hysteresis and FORC diagrams suggest pseudo-single domain grain sizes or a mixture of single and multidomain particles. The directional analysis of 11/12 volcanic structures provides a mean paleomagnetic direction and corresponding mean paleomagnetic pole (calculated from the site VGPs): Dec = 0.1°, Inc = 54.5°, n = 11, α95 = 6.7°, k = 48, Plat = 86.5°, Plong = 247.8°, A95 = 7.5°, respectively. The mean paleointensity, obtained by using the Thellier-Coe protocol, and estimated from seven volcanic structures is 42.2 ± 3.6 μT, and VDM is 8.1 × 1022Am2. The obtained directions are compatible with the Late Pleistocene paleodirection as expected from the geocentric axial dipole (GAD) field. The virtual geomagnetic pole scatter (Sb) was calculated at 13.5° which is consistent with the paleosecular variation value expected from El Pinacate latitude.

Paleomagnetism and Paleosecular Variations From the Plio‐Pleistocene Golan Heights Volcanic Plateau, Israel

AbstractStatistical analysis of geomagnetic paleosecular variation (PSV) and time‐averaged field has been largely based on global compilations of paleomagnetic data from lava flows. These show different trends in the averaged inclination anomaly (ΔI) between the two hemispheres, with small positive (<2°) anomalies in midsouthern latitudes and large negative (> −5°) anomalies in midnorthern latitudes. To inspect the large ΔI between 20°N and 40°N we augment the global data with a new paleomagnetic data set from the Golan‐Heights (GH), a Plio‐Pleistocene volcanic plateau in northeast Israel, located at 32–33°N. The GH data set consists of 91 lava flows sites: 40 sites obtained in the 1990s and 51 obtained in this study. The chronology of the flows is constrained by 57 40Ar/39Ar ages: 39 from previous studies and 18 from this study, which together cover most of the GH plateau. We show that the 1990s data set might be affected by block rotations and does not fully sample PSV. The Plio‐Pleistocene pole (86.3°N, 120.8°E, N = 44, k = 25, α95 = 4.4°), calculated after applying selection criteria with Fisher precision parameter (k) ≥ 100 and number of specimens per site (n) ≥ 5 is consistent with a geocentric axial dipole field and shows smaller inclination anomaly (ΔI = −0.4°) than predicted by global compilations and PSV models. Reexamination of the inclination anomaly in the global compilation using different calculation methods and selection criteria suggests that inclination anomaly values are affected by (1) inclusion of poor quality data, (2) averaging data by latitude bins, and (3) the way the inclination anomaly is calculated.

Paleomagnetism of the Mn wad deposit at Niimi hot springs, Hokkaido, Japan

The Niimi hot springs is located at the foot of Mt. Shyakunage in the active Niseko volcanic area, Hokkaido, Japan. The manganese (Mn) wad deposit was precipitated from the hot spring water by biomineralization processes. However, no precise direct age dates for the diagenesis of such Mn oxides have been reported. Here is reported the first paleomagnetic application to date Mn oxides on 144 disseminated Mn wad and 42 pyroclastic clay specimens. The Mn wad specimens were collected at 14 levels between ∼5.5 and ∼62 cm in thickness on a three-dimensional grid pattern, and the clay specimens were collected at seven levels between 85 and 118 cm in thickness. Alternating field step demagnetization isolates either one or two stable characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) components in the Mn wad specimens. The lower coercivity component resides in pseudosingle domain titanomagnetite and shows clustered ChRM directions at each sampling level. Conversely, the higher coercivity component resides in single domain titanomagnetite and shows more random directions. The higher coercivity component is likely carried by pyroclastic fragments that landed on the site. The remanent directions of the clay specimens reside in multidomain magnetite, are less stable, and show a scattered distribution. When the observed ChRM directions of the Mn wad specimens are compared with the paleosecular variation record from Lake Biwa in Japan, the Mn wad deposition records the secular variation and appears to have lasted at least ∼1600 years from ∼3.5 to ∼1.9 kyr BP.

A comprehensive paleomagnetic study from the last Plinian eruptions of Popocatepetl volcano: absolute chronology of lavas and estimation of emplacement temperatures of PDCs

Three lava flows (Buenavista, Xalitzintla and Nealtican) and pyroclastic density currents (Lorenzo and Pink Pumice) from two Popocatepetl Plinian eruptions were sampled for paleomagnetic dating. A detailed rock-magnetic characterization of the lavas, scoria clasts and pottery shards intercalated between the volcanic deposits was also carried out. Reliable results, both in direction and in intensity, were obtained for the Nealtican lava flow, which enabled its full-vector paleomagnetic dating using the archaeo_dating tool together with the global paleosecular variation model SHA.DIF.14 k, obtaining an age interval between 1040 AD and 1140 AD (95% probability confidence level), in good agreement with its associated 14C age. The well-grouped paleomagnetic direction of the seven specimens from two different scoria clasts of the Lorenzo Pumice pyroclastic density current suggests that clasts were emplaced hot, at a temperature that seems to have almost completely erased the original remanent magnetization of the clasts. This fact is supported by the reheating of the underlying pottery shards, evidenced as a clear secondary low-temperature range (room temperature to 350 °C) component at the orthogonal vector plots. Similarly, the three mean clusters directions obtained for site PO-2 (Pink Pumice)—roughly concentrated around the present geomagnetic field—suggest also a high emplacement temperature. Also, the first archeointensity dating of a pottery shard within the pyroclastic density current is reported. Finally, results of the rock-magnetic and paleomagnetic dating of the last Plinian eruptions from the Popocatepetl volcano, applied to different volcanic materials (lava and pyroclastic density currents), show the usefulness of these nonconventional and alternative techniques in the study of the eruptive activity of volcanoes.Graphic abstract.

Geomagnetic secular variation changes in Southern Africa during the SWARM period 2013 - 2018

Geomagnetic field observations from 4 magnetic observatories located in Southern Africa located at Hermanus (HER), Hartebeesthoek (HBK), Keetmanshoop (KMH) and Tsumeb (TSU) have been analysed with the main purpose to identify abrupt secular variation changes on time scales of less than 1 year. Removal of an annual variation resulting from large-scale magnetospheric and ionospheric currents by means of 12-month differences of the respective observatory monthly mean of northward component X, eastward component Y and vertical component Z, revealed clear evidence of several geomagnetic secular variation changes that took place in this region during the period between 2013 and 2018. The geomagnetic field model CHAOS6-x7, based exclusively on SWARM satellite and magnetic observatory data during this period, has been used to determine secular acceleration patterns across Southern Africa. The results obtained revealed that the observed secular variation changes took place over a range of strengths in the respective X, Y and Z components at every magnetic observatory. In addition, the respective observatories in the region also exhibited strong individual characteristics. The findings in this investigation show once again that the southern African region is characterised by unpredictable abrupt geomagnetic secular variation changes that have the potential to render linear prediction models less accurate.