Geomagnetic excursion

A geomagnetic excursion, like a geomagnetic reversal, is a significant change in the Earth's magnetic field. Unlike reversals, an excursion is not a "permanent" re-orientation of the large-scale field, but rather represents a dramatic, typically a (geologically) short-lived change in field intensity, with a variation in pole orientation of up to 45° from the previous position.[1]

Excursion events typically only last a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of years, and often involve declines in field strength to between 0 and 20% of normal. Unlike full reversals, excursions are generally not recorded around the entire globe. This is certainly due in part to them not registering well in the sedimentary record, but it also seems likely that excursions may not typically extend through the entire global geomagnetic field.[1] There are significant exceptions, however.[a]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Gubbins-1999 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Ice age polarity reversal was global event: Extremely brief reversal of geomagnetic field, climate variability, and super volcano". Sciencedaily.com. Science Daily. 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  3. ^ Roperch, P.; Bonhommet, N.; Levi, S. (1988). "Paleointensity of the Earth's magnetic field during the Laschamp excursion and its geomagnetic implications". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 88 (1–2): 209–219. Bibcode:1988E&PSL..88..209R. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(88)90058-1.


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