SAW-TOOTHED PATTERN OF RELATIVE PALEOINTENSITY RECORDS AND CUMULATIVEVISCOUS REMANENCE

Several studies of relative paleointensity data derived from marine se diments spanning the last 4 Myr display an asymmetrical ''saw-toothed' ' pattern. Polarity reversals of the geomagnetic field are associated with low points in paleofield intensity, preceded by a long-term progr essive decay of the field and followed by a rapid post-transitional re covery [1-3]. Since similar behavior is observed in far-flung sites wh ose rock magnetic records are different, it is argued that the world-w ide ''saw-toothing'' represents geomagnetic field behavior [3]. We pre sent an alternative explanation, calling on the effect of ''hard'' vis cous remanence.