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Geomagnetic reversals and excursions: Their paleomagnetic record and implications for the geodynamo

1983; Volume: 21; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1029/rg021i003p00614

0096-1043

Kenneth A. Hoffman,

Geology and Paleoclimatology Research

Since the earliest reports of paleomagnetic evidence in support of the existence of geomagnetic field reversals, much attention has been focused on understanding the relevant core mechanism. Given the far‐reaching implications such an understanding would have on the whole of geomagnetism, past investigations of this phenomenon have involved experimentalists and theoreticians alike. In particular, during the previous quadrennium (1975–1978) significant contributions were gained from each of various approaches, namely, experimental studies of paleomagnetic records of polarity transitions, statistical studies involving the frequency of occurrence of reversals as well as the time‐averaged full polarity states and theoretical studies concerning the dynamo. Continued progress along many fronts has been made during the last four years (see the recent review by Hoffman (1982a)); such is the subject of this report.