earth-sciences

Paleomagnetism & Ancient Magnetic Fields

The record of Earth's ancient magnetic field — geomagnetic reversals, virtual geomagnetic poles, declination-inclination pairs, apparent polar wander paths, and paleointensity measurements from rocks.

paleomagnetismgeomagnetic reversalpolar wanderdeclinationinclinationpaleointensityplate tectonicsgeophysics

Paleomagnetism decodes the history of Earth's magnetic field preserved in rocks. When volcanic lava cools or sediment settles, ferromagnetic minerals lock in the ambient field direction and strength like tiny compass needles frozen in stone. By measuring these fossil magnetizations, geophysicists reconstruct past pole positions, prove continental drift, date geomagnetic reversals, and constrain the dynamics of the outer core dynamo.

These simulations let you trigger geomagnetic polarity reversals, compute virtual geomagnetic poles from declination-inclination data, visualize the stereographic projection of field directions, trace apparent polar wander paths across geological time, and estimate paleointensity from Thellier-type experiments — all with interactive controls and scientifically accurate models.

5 interactive simulations

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Apparent Polar Wander Path

Trace apparent polar wander paths — explore how plate velocity, rotation rate, continent latitude, and geological time combine to produce the sweeping pole tracks that prove continental drift

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Declination & Inclination Stereographic Projection

Visualize paleomagnetic field directions on a stereographic projection — explore how declination, inclination, latitude, and Fisher precision parameter define field direction distributions and confidence cones

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Geomagnetic Polarity Reversal

Simulate geomagnetic field reversals — explore how dipole strength, reversal rate, transition duration, and field asymmetry govern the polarity flip recorded in volcanic rocks and ocean sediments

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Paleointensity & Ancient Field Strength

Simulate paleointensity determination — explore how NRM/TRM ratios, laboratory field strength, thermal alteration, and the Arai plot diagram reveal the strength of Earth's ancient magnetic field

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Virtual Geomagnetic Pole (VGP)

Compute virtual geomagnetic poles from paleomagnetic directions — explore how site latitude, declination, and inclination map to pole positions on the globe using the geocentric axial dipole hypothesis