Open AccessAn Analysis of the positions of the Earth's Magnetic Pole in the Geological Past
Author(s) -
Hibberd F. H.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1962.tb02978.x
Subject(s) - geology , polarity (international relations) , magnetization , geophysics , latitude , magnetic anomaly , paleomagnetism , north pole , earth's magnetic field , polar wander , seismology , geodesy , paleontology , physics , magnetic field , geography , physical geography , genetics , quantum mechanics , cell , biology
Summary An analysis has been made of 129 determinations from all continents of the positions, inferred from palaeomagnetic observations, of the magnetic pole in the geological past. The pole positions for each geological age fall into two well‐defined groups concentrated along opposite longitudes. Secondary magnetization produces characteristic displacements of the latitudes of the inferred poles. Examination of the data shows that the positions of most of the inferred poles which exhibit a single polarity are consistent with the hypothesis that secondary magnetization is present in some of the palaeomagnetic specimens. It appears that the palaeomagnetic observations could be accounted for by a combination of a slow northward and westward spiral movement of the actual pole together with secondary magnetization.