A new set of qualitative reliability criteria to aid inferences on palaeomagnetic dipole moment variations through geological time

• DOI: 10.3389/feart.2014.00024
• Publication Date: 2014-10-01T09:29:25Z
• Authors: Andrew J. Biggin; Greig A. Paterson
• Keywords: Earth structure

Records of reversal frequency support forcing the geodynamo over geological timescales but obtaining these for earlier times (e.g. Precambrian) is a major challenge. Changes in measured virtual (axial) dipole moment Earth, averaged several millions years or longer, also have potential to constrain core and mantle evolution through deep time. There been wealth recent innovations palaeointensity methods, there is, as yet, no comprehensive means assessing reliability new existing data. Here we present set largely qualitative criteria results at site mean level, which term QPI reference long-standing Q used palaeomagnetic poles. These represent first attempt capture range biasing agents applicable measurements recognise various approaches employed obviate them. A total 8 are proposed applied 312 estimates recently incorporated into PINT global database. The number fulfilled by single estimate (the value) varies between 1 6 examined dataset has median 3. Success rates each highly variable, criterion was met least few results. will be useful future studies gauging published estimates.