This book documents the agreed geological reference point for the Pleistocene boundary, and its worldwide correlation.

The Early-Middle Pleistocene transition (around 1.2 to 0.5 Ma) marks a profound shift in Earth's climate state. Low-amplitude 41 ka climate cycles, dominating the earlier part of the Pleistocene, gave way progressively to a 100 ka rhythm of increased amplitude that characterizes our present glacial-interglacial world. This volume assesses the biotic and physical response to this transition both on land and in the oceans: indeed it examines the very nature of Quaternary climate change. Milankovitch theory, palaeoceanography using isotopes and microfossils, marine organic geochemistry, tephrochronology, the record of loess and soil deposition, terrestrial vegetational change, and the migration and evolution of hominins as well as other large and small mammals, are all considered. These themes combine to explore the very origins of our present biota.

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