Paleomagnetic Secular Variation Record Research Articles

High-resolution U-channel paleomagnetic secular variation and magnetic field excursions from ocean drilling program site 1233 (MIS 1–4; 0–71 ka)

This paper presents new u-channel paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) data for ODP Site 1233 (Chile margin) for the last 70 ky. This is the highest-resolution, long-term PSV record ever recovered. The u-channel study has carried out detailed af demagnetization of the natural remanence (NRM) and developed a characteristic remanence (ChRM – final PSV direction) for each sampling horizon. The u-channel rock magnetic studies have measured magnetic susceptibility and anhysteretic remanence (ARM) with af demagnetization and used them to normalize the NRM and develop a new, detailed relative paleointensity record. The paleomagnetic record contains three excursions: the Mono Lake Excursion, the Laschamp Excursion, and the Greenland/Norwegian-Sea Excursion. These excursions have nominal sampling intervals of 5–8 years. Both the Mono Lake and Greenland/Norwegian-Sea Excursions involve short duration intervals of excursional directions (<300 years). The excursions are distinctly different from similar excursion records from other parts of the World. The Laschamp Excursion exhibits a full local reversal of the field with fast (<200 yr) movement to/from reversed directions and ∼ 500 years of full reversed polarity directions. This pattern is distinctly different from Laschamp excursion records from other parts of the World. We have carried out a statistical analysis of the Site 1233 u-channel PSV record. Notable specific features of that analysis include documentation that the field spends >1/3 of its time with anomalously large amplitude directional variability (high angular dispersion). These intervals occur at∼25–45 ka and 55–65 ka. These intervals have lower-frequency (more sluggish) directional variability and are associated with lower than average paleointensity.

Persistent Influence of Non‐Dipole Geomagnetic Field on East Asia Over the Past 4,000 Years

AbstractThe observed variations in intense geomagnetic flux lobes have a significant impact on regional geomagnetic fields, and produce unique geomagnetic characteristics. To investigate the time‐dependent effect of the Siberian flux lobe on the geomagnetic field in East Asia, we reconstructed a stacked full‐vector paleomagnetic secular variation record (since 2000 BCE) from three sediment cores collected in the Bohai Sea, China. Age models of the studied cores were established through a combination of radiocarbon 14C dating and inter‐profile correlation of mass‐normalized magnetic susceptibility. Rock magnetic results indicate that fine‐grained magnetite is the primary remanent carrier. We found that the paleomagnetic field records in the Bohai Sea correspond more closely with those from the middle latitudes, rather than the low latitudes. This was primarily attributed to the variation of the Siberian flux lobe. This study provides a better understanding of the contrasting patterns of regional geomagnetic fields in East Asia, and emphasizes the significant role played by the Siberian flux intensity lobe in shaping their formation.

On the relationship between paleomagnetic secular variation and excursions – Records from MIS 9 and 10 - ODP Leg 172

This paper summarizes paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) and excursions recorded from MIS 9–10 (300–374 ka) shipboard measurements of sediments from the western North Atlantic Ocean at ODP Sites 1060, 1061, 1062, and 1063. We have identified 33 inclination features, 31 declination features, and 12 paleointensity features that are reproducible among the four ODP Sites. We have dated these records based on estimates of Milankovich carbonate cyclicity in Grutzner et al. (2002). We also dated these records by comparison with the PISO-1500 global paleointensity record (Channel et al., 2009). The two methods give comparable age estimates for this time interval.. We have also recovered a 9-m PSV record from u-channel studies of Hole 1062H. This record is almost identical to the shipboard paleomagnetic results from Site 1062. All records show evidence for the Calabrian Ridge Excursion (329 ± 3 ka); Sites 1062 and 1063 contain the most consistent and high-resolution paleomagnetic records of the excursion. The Calabrian Ridge excursion is associated with a narrow (~12 ky) interval of high angular dispersion and low paleointensity. We have also carried out a statistical study of the PSV records after removing all true excursional directions (Lund, 2018). There is significant PSV directional variability over 104 yr time scales that is common to all four sites. The pattern of angular dispersion variability is bimodal with most time spent with low (~10°) dispersion, with two shorter intervals of high (~25°) dispersion. The high-dispersion intervals are associated with low intensity intervals and excursions.

Late-Holocene paleomagnetic secular variation records from Lake Turkana, East Equatorial Africa

We have carried out a paleomagnetic study of three piston cores collected from Lake Turkana. The goal is to recover a Holocene paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) record for this lake and to correlate it with other Holocene PSV records from the East Africa Rift Valley (EARV). All three cores were sampled with u-channels and magnetic measurements of magnetic susceptibility, the natural remanence (NRM), and two artificial remanences, anhysteretic remanence (ARM) and saturation isothermal remanence (SIRM), were made on them. The remanences were routinely step-wise demagnetized and measured at 10 mT steps up to 60 mT. The NRMS had a simple pattern of demagnetization with a characteristic direction (ChRM) removed between 10 and 60 mT. ARM and SIRM demagnetization indicated that the magnetic grains were relatively soft with median destructive fields (MDF) less than 30 mT. We interpret the magnetic grains to be multi-domain (silt-sized) magnetite/titanomagnetite. The resulting magnetic records of all three cores could be correlated. A chronology for these cores was determined from four radiocarbon dates on core 4P. We also estimated the sediment ages by correlating the PSV to two other well-dated PSV records from the same region, Lakes Malawi and Victoria. PSV age estimation indicates that the radiocarbon dates are about 500 year too old; a correction for that offset causes three of the four radiocarbon ages to become consistent with the PSV age estimates. The final composite Lake Turkana PSV record for the last ~4000 years is the highest resolution directional record of PSV (~200 cm/ky) ever to be recovered from Africa.

Stratigraphy of deep-sea marine sediment using paleomagnetic secular variation: Refined dating of turbidite relating to giant earthquake in Japan Trench

Recent studies of the sedimentary record of the Japan Trench indicate unique earthquake-induced depositional characteristics. To correlate such deposits to historical earthquakes, we studied the stratigraphy of two sedimentary cores obtained from basins of the Japan Trench at 7400 m and 7600 m water depth using paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV). Because of their high sedimentation rates, results show that excellent geomagnetic records are preserved in the sediments in spite of the great water depth. Paleomagnetic secular variation, especially declination during the past 3000 years revealing a distinctive feature of large oscillation, offers an opportunity to make precise stratigraphic correlations. Identification of boundaries between thick fine turbidite intervals and hemipelagite intervals was made based on rock magnetic properties. Successful applications of extraction of paleomagnetic data solely from the hemipelagic interval demonstrate that stratigraphic positions of turbidite in paleomagnetic secular variation record are mutually well correlated in PSV variations. Even over long distances between sites, the turbidites induced by earthquakes can be correlated exactly. The turbidite ages were determined by referring to the PSV master curve. Especially, the ages of turbidite units regarded as induced by the Jogan earthquake can be inferred from two cores that closely approximate its documented age.

A full-vector paleomagnetic secular variation record from 55,000 to 33,000 cal. years BP from Río Valdéz glaciolacustrine outcrop (Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina)

High-resolution paleomagnetic investigations were performed on Río Valdez outcrop at the Fagnano Lake, central Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, southernmost South America. Our aims were to develop a full-vector paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) record and establish paleomagnetic chronostratigraphy for the outcrop based on radiocarbon dating and the correlation of the PSV record with other dated PSV records in the region. We detected two distinct anomalous directional intervals at 35,400 and 33,800 cal. years BP and at 41,500 and 39,000 cal. years BP, which could be associated with Mono Lake and Laschamp excursions. Rock magnetic investigations revealed slight changes in concentration, mineralogy, and magnetic grain size along the sedimentary sequence, but the reconstruction of past direction and relative paleointensity variations in the geomagnetic field remained feasible. The record provides new insights into the behavior of the geomagnetic field at high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, about which very little is currently known.

Application of multiple dating techniques to the Holocene sediments of Angrenjin Co in the southern Tibetan Plateau

The production of high-resolution and accurate age models for lake sediments in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is a prerequisite for subsequent paleoclimatic studies. However, Holocene lake sedimentary records with high-quality age controls from the TP are extremely scarce. Here we present the results of a comparative study of the results of the application of multiple dating techniques (14C, 210Pb, 137Cs) and a paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) study of the sediments of Angrenjin Co in the southern central TP, during the last 3600 years. The PSV data are verified by comparison with a stacked PSV record from East Asia and with a global geomagnetic field model. The results of 14C-dating, validated by independent 210Pb, 137Cs and PSV dating, together with Bacon age modeling, indicate that the reservoir has an age range of ~2287 ± 58–6434 ± 165 years; in addition, the median offset ages estimated by the Bacon age-depth model range from ~1330 ± 428 to 3102 ± 513 years. This cross-dating approach effectively reduces dating uncertainties for lake sediments in the TP, and it can accommodate a variable reservoir effect. Comparison of the paleomagnetic inclination record from Angrenjin Co with previously published records from Tangra Yumco, Taro Co and Nam Co indicates an overall high degree of similarity, suggesting that the paleomagnetic data from different lakes in the TP are reproducible. In addition, the similar inclination patterns across this large region indicate a common geomagnetic origin.

Regional character of geomagnetic field directional circularity: Holocene East Asia

This study summarizes the pattern of directional paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) in five previously-published Holocene records from East Asia. Each record is high in resolution and well-dated. We have developed equi-spaced (100-year increment) time series for the declinations and inclinations for the five sites and compared their overall directional variability. We see evidence of nine correlatable scalar features in both inclination and declination. These comparisons suggest that, to first order, these five PSV records all estimate the same regional pattern of PSV for East Asia. We specifically focus on the clockwise or counter-clockwise motion of paleomagnetic directions (termed circularity) in these PSV records. We have used two techniques to estimate the directional circularity of each PSV record. We have first calculated the incremental rate and direction of motion (clockwise or counter-clockwise) in 200-year increments for each record over the last 3000–8000 years. We have separately used a more traditional technique of looking for discernable looping (full loops down to 1/2 loops) in individual records. We estimate the loop sizes, durations, and circularity direction. We largely see the same pattern of circularity in both measurement techniques. There are eight intervals of oscillating circularity (clockwise versus counter-clockwise) in all five sites. They generally agree in timing and direction of circularity. We see evidence for 5 discernable loops alternating between clockwise and counter-clockwise in all five records. Both techniques suggest an oscillating, teeter-totter like, behavior to PSV circularity that must be due to the pattern of fluid flow/magnetic flux regeneration in the outer core. This teeter-totter behavior is unbalanced with almost twice the time spent in clockwise motion as in counter-clockwise motion. Less than 10% of the overall time series duration is spent in linear (not circulating) behavior. The loops tend to have a distribution of sizes and durations with smaller loops being shorter in duration (300–600 years) and bigger loops having longer durations (800–1500 years). One particular feature of these circularity patterns bears special note. All five PSV records show short-term (200–400 years) significant acceleration in circularity rate combined with change in circularity direction. We see evidence for three of these short intervals near 200 BCE, 400 CE, and 1300 CE. These features also are intervals of the fastest regular secular variation rates in all the records. These features are broadly analogous to geomagnetic jerks (Courtillot and LeMouel, 1976, 1984) in that they are short intervals (1–2 years) of anomalous acceleration within high-resolution historical (<200 yr) secular variation records. Gallet et al. (2003) showed evidence for similar relatively short anomalous acceleration intervals (~102 years) within PSV for the last ~3000 years, which they termed archeomagnetic jerks. We think our anomalous intervals are comparable to those of Gallet et al. (2003).

Paleomagnetic Secular Variation and Relative Paleointensity During the Holocene in South China—Huguangyan Maar Lake Revisited

AbstractThe scarcity of reliable paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) records from East Asia especially from low‐latitude regions impedes better understanding of global PSV mechanisms. Here we report on a radiocarbon‐dated Holocene PSV record from a composite ~6.7‐m‐long core collected from the high‐sedimentation‐rate Huguangyan Maar Lake (HML) in subtropical‐tropical South China. Rock magnetic results demonstrate that the natural remanent magnetization resides in single‐domain magnetite. Alternating field demagnetization experiments at 1‐cm spacing on u‐channel samples reveal six distinct inclination highs at ~7,500 BCE, ~5,100 BCE, ~4,600 BCE, ~3,600–3,400 BCE, ~1,600–1,200 BCE, and 600–800 CE; three inclination lows at ~4,800 BCE, ~600–300 BCE, and ~1,000–1,300 CE; and three eastward declination trends at ~3,600–3,200 BCE, ~2,600–2,400 BCE, and 400 BCE to 200 CE. The similarity between the HML PSV record and other independently dated records from East Asia and geomagnetic field models corroborates the robustness of our age model and Holocene PSV record. Strikingly, centennial‐ to millennial‐scale PSV features of the HML are comparable, within age uncertainties, with other Holocene records from Europe, North America, and Canada, suggesting that such directional patterns are likely to be hemispheric in scale. Although relative paleointensity data of HML are affected by environmental factors (e.g., organic matter diagenesis), the record still provides a regionally important new PSV reference curve whose conspicuous features may serve as stratigraphic markers for East Asian paleorecords.

Holocene paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) near 80° N, Northwest Spitsbergen, Svalbard: Implications for evaluating High Arctic sediment chronologies

We present a paleomagnetic study of two Holocene lake sediment sequences from Northwest Spitsbergen on Svalbard, Norway. Core HAP-212 from Lake Hajeren preserves a rare combination of a well-defined Characteristic Remanent Magnetization (ChRM) and robust age control defined by 21 terrestrial macrofossil-derived radiocarbon dates—providing a unique opportunity to assess the stratigraphic potential of High Arctic Holocene paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) close to 80° N. Core AMP-112 from Hakluytvatnet, which is also well dated, is a poor magnetic recorder and cannot be used for geomagnetic reconstruction. Comparison of the HAP-212 PSV record with poorly dated regional records show similar directional features, suggesting that PSV can be used for chronological synchronization. Comparison of the HAP-212 PSV with well dated records ∼1800 km to the southwest and southeast show that these records are in-phase at millennial timescales, within dating and magnetic uncertainties, indicating that a consistent geomagnetic signal is recorded at these temporal and spatial scales. These findings support the notion that PSV, when optimally recorded, can be used to import chronologies from lower latitudes to the High Arctic, where low organic content, hard water effects, lack of datable material, and other difficulties often preclude more conventional radiocarbon dating.

A 20–15 ka high-resolution paleomagnetic secular variation record from Black Sea sediments – no evidence for the ‘Hilina Pali excursion’?

A comprehensive magnetostratigraphic investigation on sixteen sediment cores from the southeastern Black Sea yielded a very detailed high-quality paleosecular variation (PSV) record spanning from 20 to 15 ka. The age models are based on radiocarbon dating, stratigraphic correlation, and tephrochronology. Further age constraints were obtained by correlating four meltwater events, described from the western Black Sea, ranging in age from about 17 to 15 ka, with maxima in K/Ti ratios, obtained from X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning, and minima in S-ratios, reflecting increased hematite content, in the studied cores. Since the sedimentation rates in the investigated time window are up to 50 cm ka−1, the obtained PSVs records enabled a stacking using 50-yr bins. A directional anomaly at 18.5 ka, associated with pronounced swings in inclination and declination, as well as a low in relative paleointensity (rPI), is probably contemporaneous with the Hilina Pali excursion, originally reported from Hawaiian lava flows. However, virtual geomagnetic poles (VGPs) calculated from Black Sea sediments are not located at latitudes lower than 60°N, which denotes normal, though pronounced secular variations. During the postulated Hilina Pali excursion, the VGPs calculated from Black Sea data migrated clockwise only along the coasts of the Arctic Ocean from NE Canada (20.0 ka), via Alaska (18.6 ka) and NE Siberia (18.0 ka) to Svalbard (17.0 ka), then looping clockwise through the Eastern Arctic Ocean.

A new Holocene record of geomagnetic secular variation from Windermere, UK

Paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) records serve as valuable independent stratigraphic correlation and dating tools for marine and terrestrial sediment sequences, and enhance knowledge of geomagnetic field dynamics. We present a new radiocarbon-dated record (WINPSV-12K) of Holocene geomagnetic secular variation from Windermere, updating the existing 1981 UK master PSV curve. Our analyses used continuous U-channel samples taken from the center of four sediment cores retrieved from Windermere in 2012. The natural remanent magnetization (NRM) of each U-channel was measured before and after stepwise alternating field (AF) demagnetization on a superconducting rock magnetometer at intervals of 0.5-cm or 1-cm. The NRM data reveal a stable and well-defined primary magnetization.Component declinations and inclinations estimated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of NRM data from the four Windermere cores correlate well on their independent radiocarbon age models. The four records were stacked using a sliding window bootstrap method, resulting in a composite Holocene PSV record (WINPSV-12K).On millennial timescales WINPSV-12K correlates well with other records from Western Europe and the northern North Atlantic to a resolution of ∼1 kyr, given age uncertainties and spatial variability between records. WINPSV-12K also compares well to the CALS10k.2 and pfm9k.1a model predictions for Windermere. Key regionally-significant PSV inclination features of WINPSV-12K which correlate with other North Atlantic records include peaks at 5–6, 8.5, and 10 cal ka BP, and a trough at 7 cal ka BP. Key PSV declination features include the eastward swing from 5.5–2.3 cal ka BP followed by a major westward excursion at 2.3 cal ka BP, peaks at 1.1 and 7 cal ka BP, and troughs at 5.4 and 8.2 cal ka BP, with the caveat that an estimated magnetic lock-in delay of at least 100–200 yr is present. PSV variations on 1–3 kyr timescales are interpreted to represent strengthening and weakening of the North American versus the Siberian and European–Mediterranean high-latitude flux lobes, based on the close similarities between the North Atlantic regional records and the antiphase existing in the East Asian Stack record and the North East Pacific inclination stack. WINPSV-12K provides a regionally-important new PSV reference curve whose prominent features may serve as stratigraphic markers for North Atlantic paleo-records.

A 17,000 yr paleomagnetic secular variation record from the southeast Alaskan margin: Regional and global correlations

High-resolution sedimentary records on two cores from the Gulf of Alaska margin allow development of a ∼17,400-yr reconstruction of paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV). General agreement between the two records on their independent chronologies confirms that local PSV is recorded, demonstrating that such archives, notwithstanding complexities due to variable sedimentary regimes, deposition rates, and diagenetic conditions, provide meaningful information on past changes of the geomagnetic field. Comparisons with other independently dated sedimentary paleomagnetic records from the NE Pacific indicate largely coherent inclination records that in combination create a NE Pacific sedimentary inclination anomaly stack (NEPSIAS) capturing the common signal over an area spanning >30° longitude and latitude from Alaska through Oregon to Hawaii. Comparisons of NEPSIAS with high quality declination records from the northern North Atlantic (NNA) show that negative (shallow) inclination anomalies in NEPSIAS are associated with eastward NNA declinations while positive (steep) inclination anomalies in NEPSIAS are associated with westward NNA declinations. Comparison of these directional records to regional geomagnetic intensities over the past ∼3000 yrs in North America and back nearly 8000 yrs in the Euro/Mediterranean region, are consistent with a driving mechanism of oscillations in the relative strength of the North American and Euro/Mediterranean flux lobes. The persistence of these dynamics through the Holocene implicates a long-lived organizing structure likely imposed on the geomagnetic field by the lower mantle and/or inner core. These observations underscore a fundamental connection between directional PSV in the North Pacific with that of the North Atlantic, supporting the potential for long-distance correlation of directional PSV as a chronostratigraphic tool.

Late Quaternary paleomagnetic secular variation recorded in deep-sea sediments from the Demerara Rise, equatorial west Atlantic Ocean

We have carried out a paleomagnetic/rock magnetic study of two gravity cores and two multicores from the Demerara Rise (∼8°N), adjacent to NE South America. The magnetic measurements indicate that there is a stable natural remanent magnetization (NRM) carried primarily by detrital magnetite/titanomagnetite that preserves the local pattern of paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV). The two gravity cores have consistent patterns of directional variability. The rock magnetic intensities in both gravity cores vary by less than a factor of three. Relative paleointensity estimates have been derived by normalizing the NRM to Chi, ARM, and SIRM. Both gravity cores show the same pattern of relative paleointensity variability. 27 calibrated radiocarbon dates from our studied gravity cores and one additional piston core (Huang et al., 2014) have been used to build chronologies for the two gravity cores. Core 25GGC has bulk sedimentation rates varying from 18 to 22cm/ky and contains a PSV record for the last 19ka; core 9GGC has bulk sedimentation rates of 9–17cm/ky and contains a PSV record for the last 28ka. There are no other published, good-quality, well-dated full-vector PSV records within 4000km of the sites, a region which constitutes almost 20% of the Earth’s surface area. Our relative paleointensity records are consistent with other global records under the assumption of field intensity being largely a global-scale process. We have compared our directional PSV data statistically with eight other good-quality, well-dated low-latitude PSV records. Our statistical analysis shows that our Demerara Rise directional PSV records are consistent with those other studies and that the Late Quaternary Equatorial field variability is significantly lower than much longer-duration (780ka to 5Ma) variability.

A full-vector paleomagnetic secular variation record (PSV) from Pyramid Lake (Nevada) from 47–17 ka: Evidence for the successive Mono Lake and Laschamp Excursions

We have carried out a paleomagnetic study of late-Pleistocene Pyramid Lake core PLC08-1 (1680 cm). Our goals were to develop a full-vector paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) record for the core, establish a paleomagnetic chronostratigraphy for the lake based on correlation of the PSV record to other dated PSV records in the region, compare that chronostratigraphy with previously developed radiocarbon and ash chronologies, and search for evidence of the Mono Lake Excursion and Laschamp Excursion. We have recovered a full-vector PSV record (inclination, declination, relative paleointensity) for the interval 47 ka to 17 ka. Twenty radiocarbon dates and four dated ashes provided a chronostratigraphic framework for this record. We have also used the link between our PSV and other dated PSV records to develop an independent PSV chronostratigraphy for the core. The PSV chronostratigraphy is not significantly different from that estimated by the radiocarbon and ash chronologies. We note the existence of two intervals of anomalous paleomagnetic directions. The younger interval, centered at 34.1±0.4 ka, has the characteristic vector component features of the Mono Lake Excursion. The older interval, centered at 40.9±0.5 ka, has the characteristic paleomagnetic signature of the Laschamp Excursion. This is the first time both intervals of excursional behavior have been found in the same sediment record from the western USA. Our new PSV record also corroborates previous estimates of the Mono Lake Excursion directional field behavior (Liddicoat and Coe, 1979) and age (Benson et al., 2003).

Holocene paleomagnetic secular variation from East China Sea and a PSV stack of East Asia

Paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) provides information on the mechanisms of the geodynamo and can also be used for stratigraphic correlation on a regional scale. In this study, we constructed PSV curves of relative rapidly deposited Holocene marine sequence from East China Sea. Results show that the dominant magnetic carriers are pseudo-single domain (PSD) to multidomain (MD) magnetites. Paleomagnetic directions are preserved by coarse-grained magnetite, even affected by post-depositional diagenetic alteration. The PSV record of core MD06-3040 exhibits six major inclination peaks and five declination swings during the Holocene. The periodicities for inclination are about 2000 and 550years, and for declination are about 1400 and 500years. The PSV of MD06-3040 is comparable to archeomagnetic and historic results for the last 2500years and to PSV results from lake sediments in southern China and Japan during the Holocene. A PSV stack of East Asia is constructed by sedimentary and archeological PSV results, which can be used as an important reference curve for a large region, and the PSV correlation between sites can be applied for relative dating of East Asia.

Sub-bottom sonar profiles from Loch Ness, Scotland: implications for deglaciation of the British-Irish Ice Sheet

Recent studies of the sedimentary record of the Japan Trench indicate unique earthquake-induced depositional characteristics. To correlate such deposits to historical earthquakes, we studied the stratigraphy of two sedimentary cores obtained from basins of the Japan Trench at 7400 m and 7600 m water depth using paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV). Because of their high sedimentation rates, results show that excellent geomagnetic records are preserved in the sediments in spite of the great water depth. Paleomagnetic secular variation, especially declination during the past 3000 years revealing a distinctive feature of large oscillation, offers an opportunity to make precise stratigraphic correlations. Identification of boundaries between thick fine turbidite intervals and hemipelagite intervals was made based on rock magnetic properties. Successful applications of extraction of paleomagnetic data solely from the hemipelagic interval demonstrate that stratigraphic positions of turbidite in paleomagnetic secular variation record are mutually well correlated in PSV variations. Even over long distances between sites, the turbidites induced by earthquakes can be correlated exactly. The turbidite ages were determined by referring to the PSV master curve. Especially, the ages of turbidite units regarded as induced by the Jogan earthquake can be inferred from two cores that closely approximate its documented age.

A Geomagnetic Secular Variation Record for the Last Glacial Period, Reconstructed from Coastal Bog Sediments on the Inland Sea of Japan.

A paleomagnetic secular variation record of geomagnetic field direction for the time span from 25 to 16ka was obtained from oriented bog sediment samples in a coastal area of the eastern Inland Sea, Japan. The plot of this secular variation record, combined with Holocene secular variation data, shows that a long-term westerly declination feature began after 16ka and ended at 7.5ka. This feature lasted more than 4, 000 years and less than 8, 500 years. The declinations at 25-16ka are dominated by easterly values, and no westerly declination was observed in the time span of 24-19.5ka. The inclinations at 25-16ka are characterized by slightly shallow values with small amplitude changes, compared to those in the Holocene. Prior to 18ka a large clockwise looping was dominant in the motion of the geomagnetic vector, while counter-clockwise rotations were dominant after it. Many features of secular variation in the last glacial period have the potential to yield good age constraints for use in paleomagnetic dating.