This 1994 book examines how reversals of the Earth's magnetic field have played a major role in establishing plate tectonics and a geological time scale.

The Earth's Magnetic Field : Its History, Origin, and Planetary Perspective

The mystery of Earth's invisible, life-supporting power Alanna Mitchell's globe-trotting history of the science of electromagnetism and the Earth's magnetic field--right up to the latest indications that the North and South Poles may soon reverse, with apocalyptic results--will soon change the way you think about our planet. Award-winning journalist Alanna Mitchell's science storytelling introduce intriguing characters--from the thirteenth-century French investigations into magnetism and the Victorian-era discover that electricity and magnetism emerge from the same fundamental force to the latest research. No one has ever told so eloquently how the Earth itself came to be seen as a magnet, spinning in space with two poles, and that those poles have dramatically reversed many time, often coinciding with mass extinctions. The most recent reversal was 780,000 years ago. Mitchell explores indications that the Earth's magnetic force field is decaying faster than previously thought. When the poles switch, a process that takes many years, the Earth is unprotected from solar radiation storms that would, among other disturbances, wipe out much and possible all of our electromagnetic technology. Navigation for all kinds of animals is disrupted without a stable, magnetic North Pole. But can you imagine no satellites, no Internet, no smartphones--maybe no power grids at all? Alanna Mitchell offers a beautifully crafted narrative history of surprising ideas and science, illuminating invisible parts of our own planet that are constantly changing around us.

Magnetic Stratigraphy is the most comprehensive book written in the English language on the subject of magnetic polarity stratigraphy and time scales. This volume presents the entirety of the known geomagneticrecord, which now extends back about 300 million years. The book includes the results of current research on sea floor spreading, magnetic stratigraphy of the Pliocene and Pleistocene, and postulations on the Paleozoic. Also included are both historicalbackground and applications of magnetostratigraphy. Individual chapters on correlation are presented, using changes in magnetic properties and secular variation. Key Features* Discusses pioneering work in the use of marine sediments to investigate the Earths magnetic field* Serves as a guide for students wishing to begin studies in magnetostratigraphy* Provides a comprehensive guide to magnetic polarity stratigraphy including up-to-date geomagnetic polarity time scales* Correlates magnetic stratigraphics from marine and non-marine Cenozoic sequences* Details reversal history of the magnetic field for the last 350 million years* Discusses correlation using magnetic dipole intensity changes* Up-to-date correlation of biostratigraphy with magnetic stratigraphy through the late Jurassic