Login
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin

Rain and Dust: Magnetic Records of Climate and Pollution

By

Two contrasting examples of the application of mineral magnetism to environmental problems are discussed. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of sediments from the Chinese Loess Plateau – the biggest accumulation of windblown sediments on Earth – reveal one of the best records of continental climate change available. These records provide a detailed picture of glacial and interglacial cycles and variations in the East Asian summer monsoon stretching back more than 2 million years. In the case of anthropogenic airborne particles, the spread of particulate pollutants can be robustly traced throughout a city environment by measuring the magnetic properties of leaves, which trap magnetic particles released from vehicle exhausts and/or industry emissions.

This content is for Registered members only. To subscribe, please
join one of our participating societies or contact the Editorial Team.

Login
Already a member? Log in here
Scroll to Top
Forgot Your Password?
Request Access

December 2025 --The Variscan Orogeny in Europe – Understanding Supercontinent Formation

The Variscan orogen formed between 380 and 300 million years ago through several accretionary and collisional cycles, culminating with the construction of the Pangea supercontinent. This process occurred via sequential opening and closure of oceanic basins, synchronous detachment of Gondwana derived continental ribbons, and their outboard amalgamation onto the Laurussia margin. The Variscan orogen is rather unique compared with other orogenic belts on Earth: its overthickened and dominantly magmatic crust in the central belt, surprisingly minor mantle involvement in the magmatic and geodynamic processes, coherent and pulsed magmatism along the collision suture, and its complex accretionary history. Because its final product, Pangea, is the youngest and best-understood supercontinent on Earth, the Variscan orogeny offers clues for understanding the mechanisms of supercontinent formation.