Geomagnetic Field Variations in the Past

Book excerpt: In the last decades, palaeomagnetic research has provided important information about the past variation of the Earth’s magnetic field (EMF) from its origin to the present day. However, questions regarding the origin and evolution of the EMF as well as the frequency and spatial distribution of its variations still remain open to debate. This Special Publication provides new insights into the study of the temporal and spatial evolution of the EMF presenting new data from palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic studies of archaeological materials, sediments and lavas. The papers presented cover a wide range of topics related to archaeology, stratigraphy and climate, including new data from several parts of the world, such as Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India and the Baltic Sea. This Special Publication aims to present an overview of the most recent secular variation studies and their use to disclose fundamental properties of the EMF evolution.