Paleomagnetism and rock magnetism as tools for volcanology

Abstract

Paleomagnetic and rock magnetic methods for studying volcanoes and their products have been developed since the second half of the twentieth century. These methods have been used to find tephra in sediment cores, date volcanic eruptions and deposits, determine emplacement temperatures of volcanic deposits, and estimate flow directions of dikes, lava flows, and pyroclastic flow deposits. In the twenty-first century, these techniques have steadily improved and expanded, resulting in more probing and precise studies of volcanoes using paleomagnetism. We believe that continual improvement of existing techniques and the increased awareness and interest in paleomagnetic methods should allow more studies to enhance the understanding of volcanic processes.