New paleomagnetic observations from Iceland - Strong geomagnetic field 2300 years ago

In the summer of 2004 Dr. Mads Knudsen and I drove around Iceland sampling lava flows for paleomagnetic studies. The first results are now published in a scientific paper: New palaeointensity data from Holocene Icelandic lavas. The paper is part of Tania Stanton's Ph.d. thesis.

Sampling sites for Holocene lavas 

A main motivation for the study is to extend the GEOMAGIA50 database, especially for the earliest parts of the Holocene were few data exists. Iceland is an ideal location for these kinda studies given the large amounts of well-dated lavas. As can be seen from the map above, we sampled quite a few lava flows.

An interesting aspect of the study is the finding of very high paleointensities in a 2300 year old lava. Our study suggest that the geomagnetic field was roughly twice as strong at that time as it is today. A lot more paleomagnetic work could be done on Iceland - What we show is that it is possible to sample the Holocene Icelandic lavas (see photo below), and that the lavas are well suited for paleointensity experiments.

Drilling a Holocene lava flow close to Myvatn (Myvatn fires)

Drilling another Holocene lava (Burfellsrhaun)

Dr. Mads Knudsen in search of the Jamaica geomagnetic polarity event on Hlodufell