paleomágnesességre

Paleomagnetism is the study of the record of the Earth's magnetic field in rocks, sediments, and archaeological materials. This record is preserved in these materials as they form, through a process called thermoremanent magnetization or detrital remanent magnetization. As molten rock cools, or as magnetic mineral grains settle in water, they align themselves with the prevailing magnetic field direction. This alignment acts as a snapshot of the Earth's magnetic field at that specific time and location.

By analyzing the direction and intensity of the magnetic field preserved in these materials, scientists can reconstruct the past behavior of the Earth's magnetic field. This includes understanding its reversals, where the magnetic north and south poles swap places, which have occurred many times throughout Earth's history. Paleomagnetic studies have provided crucial evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, demonstrating how continents have moved and rotated over geological timescales. Furthermore, paleomagnetism is used for dating rock formations and for understanding past climate and environmental conditions. The study relies on the fact that the Earth's magnetic field has been relatively stable in its dipole nature over geological time, although its poles have shifted and reversed.