Archaeomagnetic study of ceramics from the El Molon archaeological monument (Spain

Data on the geomagnetic field intensity in the first millennium BC and the 8th–10th centuries AD are obtained from the study of materials from the El Molon archaeological monument (Spain). A 75-yr averaged curve of the variation in the geomagnetic field intensity in the area of the zero meridian over the last three millennia is constructed from a set of new and previously obtained data on the geomagnetic intensity variations in Spain and France. The field intensity smoothly decreases in the time interval studied, and variations a few centuries long are superimposed on this trend. Unlike the present-day relationship, the average level of the geomagnetic field intensity in Spain in the first millennium BC was higher than in the Caucasus.     

Geomagnetic field intensity in the eastern Mediterranean region in the second half of the 1st millennium BC and the beginning of our era

The magnetization of ceramic material manufactured in the eastern Mediterranean is studied. Data on the variation in geomagnetic field intensity in the time interval from the fourth-quarter of the 6th century BC through the 2nd century AD are obtained. The main tendency of the variation in the field intensity until approximately the middle of this interval is its decrease, after which the average intensity level varied insignificantly over the three next centuries. Variations with characteristic times of a few tens to a few hundreds of years are superimposed on the smooth variation in the field intensity approximated by a sinusoid with a period of 1600 yr. The data obtained in this work confirm the previously derived conclusion that short-term intensity variations have been permanently present in the geomagnetic field in the recent millennia.     

Variations in geomagnetic intensity and temperature in the second Millennium B.C. in Spain

The Bronze ceramics of the Baeza archeological monument in Spain is studied by archaeomagnetic methods. In the 19th and 18th centuries B.C, the intensity of the geomagnetic field varied from 40 to 60 mkT. The variations are smooth; they attained their maximum in the 16th to 15th centuries B.C. The obtained data on the variations in the geomagnetic intensity perfectly agree with the results of previous investigations for the ceramics from the Bronze Age multilayered archeological monuments Azuer and Ubeda. The temperature in the region of the Baeza monument is estimated in the interval from the 18th to the 13th centuries B.C. It experiences wave-like variation, ranging from ??15 to 23°C and attains its maximum in the 16th century B.C.     

Geomagnetic Field Intensity during the Neolith in the Central East European Plain

The conducted archeomagnetic studies resulted in data on variations in the geomagnetic field intensity in the central East European Plain (Sakhtysh I site area, ? = 56°48′ N, λ = 40°33′ E) during the time interval of 5–3 ka BC. The geomagnetic field intensity varied mainly within the range of 30–60 μT. In the first half of the 5th millennium BC, the mean level of geomagnetic field intensity was about 35 μT. In the second half of the 5th–early 4th millennium BC, it rose to about 50 μT and then decreased again to reach a mean value of about 40 μT in the period of 4–3 ka BC. Comparison of the geomagnetic field intensity variation based on the obtained data and the data on the Caucasus region for the same time interval demonstrates a certain similarity.     

Variations in the geomagnetic field strength in the 5th–3rd centuries BC in the eastern Mediterranean (according to narrowly dated ceramics)

The magnetization of ceramics from the eastern Mediterranean dated within a short period (mostly shorter than ±20 years) has been studied, which made it possible to specify the geomagnetic field variations on the time interval 5th–3rd centuries BC. The 11-year time series of the geomagnetic field strength values has been constructed. The field strength changes have been considered, which indicated that the centennial variation with a characteristic time of ～130 years (according to the obtained data) is observed on this time interval as well as during the last two millennia. The ceramic material from the Mayskaya Gora archeological site (Taman), the preparation succession of which was established based on the shape of pottery but the problem of absolute dating was not solved, has been dated.     

Archaeomagnetic study of ceramics from the Neolithic Los Castillejos multilayer monument (Montefrio,Spain)

The geomagnetic intensity variation from the middle of the 4th millennium BC to the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC is reconstructed from the archaeomagnetic study of ceramic material taken from 24 layers of the Los Castillejos monument (Montefrio, Spain). The general patterns of the geomagnetic intensity variation reconstructed by studying materials from the Cendres Cave and Los Castillejos monuments (Spain) are similar. The intensity level is revised in the time interval including the minimum of the “fundamental” oscillation of the geomagnetic field; the characteristics of geomagnetic intensity variations whose superposition can provide the intensity variation observed in the study time interval are determined. Constraints on the climate humidity variation over the settlement lifetime are obtained from heating-induced variations in the magnetic susceptibility of the ceramics.     

用曲面Spline方法表示1900～1936年中国(部分地区)地磁场及其长期变化的分布

根据19360年426个地磁测点和28个IGRF计算的地磁数据,计算地磁场和地磁异常场各个分量的曲面Spline模型,并绘制相应的地磁图和地磁异常图.依据我国部分地区的1909～1915,1915～1920,1920～1930,1930～1936年间地磁偏角长期变化图,1908～1917,1917～1922,1922～1936年间水平强度长期变化图和1908～1922,1922～1936年间垂直强度长期变化图,使用曲面Spline方法,分别计算上述9个时间段的磁偏角（D）、水平强度（H）和垂直强度（Z）长期变化的曲面Spline模型,并绘制相应的长期变化图.根据这些长期变化模型,将19360年426个点的三分量绝对值数据归算至1940,1930,1920,1910年和1900年,从而为计算这5个年代的地磁场模型奠定了坚实的基础.     

Intensity of the geomagnetic field from recent Italian lavas using a new paleointensity method

A new method has been tested on Etna historic lavas for determining the geomagnetic field intensity (F) using the thermoremanent magnetization of volcanic rocks. The procedure involves a number of very short duration heatings above the Curie point, to produce successive laboratory TRM. Thus, it is possible to check the variations in the TRM-acquiring capacity of the samples with the time of heating (t). The curve J = f(t) is then extrapolated towards t = 0, leading to a virtual value of TRM without any laboratory heating, i.e., without the changes that currently occur when the lavas are heated to produce the TRM. Using such virtual values of TRM, satisfactory results of F had been derived from the majority of the samples studied. These results are consistent with Thellier's archeomagnetic data: they show a nearly constant intensity of the geomagnetic field during the last three centuries and, further back into the past, a significant increase of this.     

Localized changes in geomagnetic total intensity values prior to the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake

Changes in total geomagnetic field intensity, of 2–3 nT, were observed prior to the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake at the Amagase (AMG) site, located approximately 70 km from the epicenter. We examined whether the observed variations are local signals arising from the Earth's crust, or global variations that are unlikely to originate from the crust. To remove global-scale variations in total geomagnetic intensity data, we employed a regional geomagnetic field model. Using data recorded at five reference sites in Japan, we estimated global-scale variations in total geomagnetic intensity, and removed them from the observed total geomagnetic intensity at the AMG site. The reminder still showed variations during the period prior to the Kobe earthquake. In addition, these pre-seismic variations include two of the largest shifts recorded during the entire observation period at the AMG site, raising the possibility that these variations were indeed related to the earthquake. These variations cannot be interpreted as signals arising from the area close to the seismic source because of the large distance between the epicenter and the site. Therefore, our results raise the possibility that the physical state of the Earth's crust shows marked changes over a wide region in the lead-up to a seismic event.     

Sq指数的周期变化分析

利用1960-1980年中国北京和广州的地磁场X分量小时值数据,根据徐文耀(1992)提出的用来描述每日Sq变化幅度的地磁活动指数的方法,计算并分析了Asq指数的周期变化特征.结果表明:Asq指数具有11年、年和半年变化等主要周期成分,与F107指数傅氏谱主要周期成分存在对应关系,表明Asq指数的周期变化与太阳辐射密切相关.然而互相关分析表明,日变幅dSq与F107的相关关系略强,这是由于Asq指数计算中每月平均ΔS_q(t)携带了部分Sq场的周期变化信息.     

Direction and relative paleointensity of the geomagnetic field in the middle and later pleistocene from paleomagnetic data of the Roxolany section (Ukraine)

The lower part of the Roxolany section (Ukraine) is studied, and paleomagnetic and petromagnetic characteristics of rock samples are obtained for the time interval 300-75 ka. Detailed curves of variations in angular parameters of the geomagnetic field are constructed in the entire time interval, and curves of variations in the relative paleointensity are obtained for the interval 300-180 ka. Using the values of the angular parameters and the deviations of the virtual geomagnetic pole from the position of the stationary field, anomalous directions compatible with the Jamaica excursion are identified in the intervals 250-249 and 221-220 ka. The geomagnetic field evolution is studied by methods of wavelet analysis, and the field generation process is shown to vary in the interval 300-180 ka.     

应用NOC方法研究中国地区地磁时空变化

应用自然正交分量(NOC)方法,对1995～2006年中国地区36个地磁台的地磁场观测数据进行了计算,获得了上述数据矩阵的本征值和相应的空间域、时间域本征向量,并就其时空分布与中国地磁模型（CGM）进行了对比分析,探讨了它的物理意义.研究表明,上述观测数据包含了丰富的地磁内、外源场信息,其中地磁场要素F、D、I第一、第二本征值及相应的空间域和时间域的第一、第二本征向量所描述的地磁基本场时间变化与CGM吻合较好.     

Wavelet analysis of geomagnetic field data

Variations in geomagnetic field data at different spectral frequencies and with different periods are observed during increased geomagnetic activity. The formed local structures depend on the field disturbance and contain information on the magnetic storm intensity and character of development. Numerical solutions and algorithms based on wavelet transforms, which make it possible to “automatically” detect periods of increased geomagnetic activity and identify and analyze the structures forming this process, have been proposed in order to study the time characteristics of geomagnetic field variations, using the H component as an example. The separated components, characterizing disturbances, make it possible to estimate variations in the field energy characteristics. An analysis of the constructed wavelet images makes it possible to trace the dynamics of variations in the H component the day before and during a magnetic storm.     

Archeomagnetic studies of ceramics from the archeological monument in Ubeda,Spain

The archaeomagnetic study of the ceramics from the multilayered archeological monument Ubeda in Spain provided the data on the geomagnetic field strength in the period of accumulation of cultural deposits. According to the results obtained for the Ubeda monument of the Bronze Age and the La Motilla Del Azuer multilayer archaeological monument dated to the second millennium BC, the time interval of accumulation of the Ubeda cultural deposits likely spans from the last quarter of the 19th to 18th centuries BC. The sharp decrease in the geomagnetic field strength in the 19th century BC. established against the obtained data is consistent with the archaeomagnetic results for other Eurasian regions and can be used for correlating the ages of various archeological monuments and stages of culture.     

东亚地区地磁非偶极场长期变化的分析

本文利用东亚及其邻近地区50个地磁台站1955-1977年地磁三要素（D、H、Z）的实测年平均值算出的非偶极场值X、Y、Z,选用“按距离加权最小二乘曲面拟合”方法,计算、绘制、分析了东亚地区地磁非偶极场及其长期变化的时空分布特征,并与国际参考场（IGRF）模式进行了粗略的对比。所得的主要结果是:1.1955.0-1965.0年代,东亚地区Z分量的增长速度在迅速减小;1965.0年代以后,Z值在逐年下降。2.从整体上看,东亚地区地磁非偶极场虽然形态与IGRF给出的结果基本吻合,但长期变化有明显差异。1965.0年代的IGRF长期变化模式与实测结果偏差甚大。为了使IGRF模式更好地拟合地磁长期变化处于转折时期的复杂地区的情况,看来时间间隔应更短些,例如5年为好,采用现在通用的方法是不适宜的。     

The results of wavelet-analysis of series of archaeomagnetic data on the geomagnetic field intensity

We analyze the results of wavelet analysis of series of archaeomagnetic data on the geomagnetic field’s intensity over the past 7500 yrs performed by Gurarii and Aleksyutin and presented in the paper “Wavelet Analysis of Basic Archaeomagnetic Series of Data on Geomagnetic Field Intensity over the Past 7500 Years” [Gurarii and Aleksytin, 2009]. The results in themselves are beyond question, but their interpretation given in the aforementioned paper is very controversial. Analyzing these results, we arrive at the conclusion that the periods of variations identified reliably (very strongly or identified in a long time interval) lie within certain bands with about 300-, 500-, 750-, and 1600-yr centerlines. The conclusion is drawn on the existence of general regularities in the behavior of geomagnetic field variations.     

Geomagnetic Field Variations as Determined from Bulgarian Archaeomagnetic Data. Part II: The Last 8000 Years

The knowledge about past secular variations of the geomagnetic field is achieved on the basis of archaeomagnetic researches of which the Bulgarian studies form an extended data set. In Part I (Kovacheva and Toshkov, 1994), the methodology used in the Sofia palaeomagnetic laboratory was described and the secular variation curves for the last 2000 years were shown. In Part II (this paper), the basic characteristics of the prehistoric materials used in the archaeomagnetic studies are emphasised, particularly in the context of the rock magnetic studies used in connection with palaeointensity determinations. The results of magnetic anisotropy studies of the prehistoric ovens and other fired structures are summarised, including the anisotropy correction of the palaeointensity results for prehistoric materials, different from bricks and pottery. Curves of the direction and intensity of the geomagnetic field during the last 8000 years in Bulgaria are given. The available directional and intensity values have been used to calculate the variation curve of the virtual dipole moment (VDM) for the last 8000 years based on different time interval averages. The path of virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) positions is discussed.     

Wavelet analysis of paleomagnetic data: 5. Early Jaramillo reversal and main characteristic times in the interval from 3 to 70 ka in the variations of the elements of geomagnetic field (Western Turkmenia)

The data on the variations in the elements of the geomagnetic field with the characteristic times of 3–70 ka during the 180-ka interval that includes the final stage of the Matuyama chron, the Jaramillo subchron, and the Early Jaramillo reversal are presented. A series of particular features are revealed in the variations. It is shown that such detailed characteristics of the variations, which might be critical for identifying the causes of the reversals, can only be derived by thorough investigation of the sedimentary rocks that were accumulated during very long time intervals (many hundreds of years) and slowly cooling intrusions.     

Gravity wave generation and propagation during geomagnetic storms over Kiruna (67.8°N, 20.4°E)

Atmospheric gravity waves, detected over Kiruna (67.8°N, 20.4°E) during geomagnetic storms, are presented and analysed. The data include direct measurements of the OI 630.0 nm emission line intensity, the x-component of the local geomagnetic field and thermospheric (meridional and zonal) wind velocities derived from the OI 630.0 nm Doppler shift observed with an imaging Fabry-Perot interferometer (IFPI). A low pass band filter technique was used to determine short-period variations in the thermospheric meridional wind velocities observed during geomagnetic storms. These short-period variations in the meridional wind velocities, which are identified as due to gravity waves, are compared to the corresponding variations observed in the OI 630.0 nm emission line intensity, x-component of the local geomagnetic field and the location of the auroral electrojet. A cross-correlation analysis was used to calculate the propagation velocities of the observed gravity waves.     

Geomagnetic evolution: 400 years of change on planet Earth

Spherical harmonic coefficients of the geomagnetic field, calculated from historical observations of declination, inclination and intensity, and from archaeomagnetic inclination results, have been used to produce a film of geomagnetic change since 1600 A.D. The non-dipole geomagnetic field is found to be constantly changing: no fixed or standing non-dipole features are observed. Non-dipole foci are seen to have lifetimes of a few hundred years. The westward drift, which was an important feature of the 18th and early 19th century geomagnetic field, was less pronounced in the 17th century. The growth, evolution, decay and replacement of non-dipole foci, but not their movement are found to have been the major features producing century-long secular directional magnetic variation. Most of the low degree and order spherical harmonic coefficients have changed significantly over the last few hundred years. In particular the change in sign of the axisymmetric quadrupole around 1837 A.D. is noted. Sustained, century-long, intensity changes, however, appear to have been dominated by variations in the intensity of the centred dipole, rather than by non-dipole field fluctuations.