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Geomagnetic excursion captured by multiple volcanoes in a monogenetic field
Author(s) -
Cassidy John
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2006gl027284
Subject(s) - excursion , volcano , geology , paleomagnetism , earth's magnetic field , declination , seismology , quaternary , geophysics , population , lava field , geodesy , paleontology , lava , magnetic field , law , physics , quantum mechanics , political science , demography , astronomy , sociology
Five monogenetic volcanoes within the Quaternary Auckland volcanic field are shown to have recorded a virtually identical but anomalous paleomagnetic direction (mean inclination and declination of 61.7° and 351.0°, respectively), consistent with the capture of a geomagnetic excursion. Based on documented rates of change of paleomagnetic field direction during excursions this implies that the volcanoes may have all formed within a period of only 50–100 years or less. These temporally linked volcanoes are widespread throughout the field and appear not to be structurally related. However, the general paradigm for the reawakening of monogenetic fields is that only a single new volcano or group of closely spaced vents is created, typically at intervals of several hundred years or more. Therefore, the results presented show that for any monogenetic field the impact of renewed eruptive activity may be significantly under‐estimated, especially for potentially affected population centres and the siting of sensitive facilities.