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22.10.2026The CitecUB Paleomagnetism Service Contributes to the First Volcanic Record of Multiple Quaternary Geomagnetic Excursions in the Iberian Peninsula
A recent study published in Geologica Acta has revealed that lava flows from the La Garrotxa Volcanic Field preserve an exceptional record of some of the major disturbances of the Earth's magnetic field that occurred during the Quaternary.
he research, led by scientists from the University of Burgos in collaboration with the Scientific and Technical Centre of the University of Barcelona (CitecUB), identified evidence of the Laschamp and Greenland-Norwegian Sea geomagnetic excursions, periods during which the Earth's magnetic field weakened significantly and underwent major anomalies. This work represents the first volcanic record of multiple Quaternary geomagnetic excursions documented in the Iberian Peninsula.
PhD Bet Beamud, from the Paleomagnetism Service ((CitecUB-GEO3BCN CSIC), contributed to the paleomagnetic and paleointensity studies that made it possible to reconstruct both the direction and intensity of the Earth's magnetic field recorded in the La Garrotxa lava flows.
In addition, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of advanced methodologies such as Low-Temperature Demagnetization (LTD) applied to paleointensity experiments, which significantly improved the quality and reliability of the results.
The data obtained were compared with global geomagnetic models, showing excellent agreement and providing new insights into the evolution of the Earth's magnetic field in southern Europe during the Quaternary.