Simulating 2 Ga of geodynamo history

Abstract The paleomagnetic record indicates the geodynamo has been active over much of Earth history with surprisingly little trend in paleointensity. Variability, however, is expected from models that predict a sharp increase in intensity following inner core nucleation (ICN) and implied by Neoproterozoic anomalies that hint at a highly variable field over several hundred million years. Here we demonstrate with a suite of numerical dynamos driven by a new thermal evolution model that the geodynamo could have transitioned from a multipolar to dipolar regime around 1.7 Ga, then to a weak‐field dynamo around 1.0 Ga, and finally to a strong‐field dipole following ICN around 650 Ma that is maintained to the present day. The occurrence of a weak‐field geodynamo in the Neoproterozoic may be consistent with the observed anomalous apparent polar wander paths and reversal behavior. Recovery to a dipolar geodynamo in the Phanerozoic could be a signature of inner core nucleation. Index terms: 1507, 1560, and 1521.