Earth:Gauss-Matuyama reversal

The Gauss-Matuyama Reversal was a geologic event approximately 2.58 million years ago (Deino et al. 2006) when the Earth's magnetic field underwent geomagnetic reversal. The Gauss-Matuyama Reversal is a natural phenomenon that is frequently used to as a boundary between the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs (Suc et al. 1997). This event, which separates the Piacenzian from the Gelasian and marks the start of the Quaternary, is useful in dating sediments.

Biological effects

The event is marked by the extinction of calcareous nanofossils Discoaster pentaradiatus and Discoaster surculus, among others. The Gauss Matuyama reversal could have adversely affected sustainable biological function during the early Pleistocene supernova (Melott et al. 2019). Paleomagnetic studies support that this phenomenon are sporadic and do not have a predictable behavior before this phenomenon occurs. Additionally, during this event, the shielding that the magnetic field provides Earth is briefly distorted and weakened resulting in a hostile environment for biological functions (Glatzmaier and Coe 2015).

A time scale showing the Geomagnetic polarity scale based on significant dates

See also

• Brunhes–Matuyama reversal
• Eltanin impact of 2.51 ± 0.07 million years ago
• Jaramillo reversal
• Electromagnetic field
• Field
• Electric charge

References

Melott, A. L., and Thomas, B. C. 2019. From cosmic explosions to terrestrial fires? J. Geol. 127:475– 481.

Suc, J.-P.; Bertini, A.; Leroy, S. A. G.; and Suballyova, D. 1997. Towards the lowering of the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary to the Gauss-Matuyama reversal. Quat. Int. 40:37–42.

Harrison, R. G., and Stephenson, D. B. 2006. Empirical evidence for a nonlinear effect of galactic cosmic rays on clouds. Proc. R. Soc. A 462(2068):1221–1233.

The Journal of Geology, 2020, volume 128, p. 389–391] q 2020 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved. 0022-1376/2020/12804-0005$15.00. DOI: 10.1086/709750