The palaeogeomagnetic field strength,variations in reversal frequency,and geomagnetic dynamo models

Abstract

The geomagnetic field and its frequent polarity reversals are generally attributed to magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) processes in the Earth's metallic and fluid core. But it is difficult to identify convincingly any MHD timescales with that over which the reversals occur. Moreover, the geological record indicates that the intervals between the consecutive reversals have varied widely. In addition, there have been superchrons when the reversals have been frequent, and at least two, and perhaps three, 35-70 Myr long superchrons when they were almost totally absent. The evaluation of these long-term variations in the palaeogeophysical record can provide crucial constraints on theories of geomagnetism, but it has generally been limited to only the directional or polarity data. It is shown here that the correlation of the palaeogeomagnetic field strength with the field's protracted stability during a fixed polarity superchron provides such a constraint. In terms of a strong field dynamo model it leads to the speculation that the magnetic Reynolds number, and the toroidal field, increase substantially during a superchron of frequent reversals.