High paleointensities for the Canary Islands constrain the Levant geomagnetic high

Abstract

Understanding the behavior of enigmatic geomagnetic traits such as the Levant intensity high is currently challenged by a lack of full vector records of regional variations in the geomagnetic field. Here we apply the recently proposed multi-method paleointensity approach to a suite of 19 lavas from the Canary Islands dating between ∼4000 BC and 1909 AD. Our new record reveals high paleointensities (VADMs >120 ZAm2) coinciding with and shortly after the peak in geomagnetic intensity in the Levant at ∼1000 BC. Furthermore our data suggests a westward movement of this geomagnetic phenomenon at a rate of 6.7–12° per century. In addition to IZZI-Thellier, microwave-Thellier and the multi-specimen method, the calibrated pseudo-Thellier method is an important part of the multi-method paleointensity approach. The calibration of this relative paleointensity method was derived from a suite of Hawaiian lavas; it is improved with the results of the Canarian cooling units. Pseudo-Thellier results from samples with very low Curie temperature (<150 °C), however, cannot be reliably converted to absolute paleointensity estimates. The multi-method paleointensity approach yielded a reliable estimate for ∼60% of the flows sampled – an unusually high success rate for a paleointensity study involving lavas.