Geomagnetic palaeosecular variation (0-13000 yr BP) as recorded in sediments from three maar lakes from the West Eifel (Germany)

Geomagnetic palaeosecular variation (PSV) profiles have been obtained from 12 cores raised from three maar lakes in the West Eifel (Germany). Age control is provided by varve chronology. Analysis of mean inclinations suggests that a post-depositional remanent magnetization (PDRM) was acquired in all three lakes. A lock-in time of 150 yr, corresponding to an average lock-in depth of 24 cm, has been determined from a comparison with archaeomagnetic SV data. Stacked PSV results demonstrate directional geomagnetic field behaviour through the Late- and Post-glacial in Central Europe and show good agreement with the Holocene British master curve (Turner & Thompson 1982). PSV results suggest that westward drift of the non-dipole held was not persistent over the last 13 000 yr. Spectral analyses yield declination variations with durations of about. 1800 yr in the younger Holocene (0-5000 yr BP) and 4300 yr between 5000 and 13 000 yr BP. The inclination exhibits swings of 1000 yr duration in the younger Holocene and about 2000 yr in the older part. Moreover, inclination spectra suggest the presence of one inclination variation with a very long duration approaching the length of the time span investigated (approximate to 8600 yr).