On the feasibility of Paleomagnetic Euler Pole Analysis

Owing to the inherent axial symmetry of the Earth’s magnetic field, paleomagnetic data only directly record the latitudinal and azimuthal positions of crustal blocks in the past, and paleolongitude cannot be constrained. An ability to overcome this obstacle is thus of fundamental importance to paleogeographic reconstruction. Paleomagnetic Euler pole (PEP) analysis presents a unique means to recover such information, but prior implementations of the PEP method have incorporated subjective decisions into its execution, undercutting its fidelity and rigor. Here we introduce an optimization approach to PEP analysis that addresses some of these deficiencies---namely the objective identification of change-points and small-circle arcs that together approximate an apparent polar wander path. Equipped with a new analytical approach to PEP analysis we turn to consider its feasibility in terms of its potential in the context of the theoretical and practical limitations of paleomagnetic data. In this presentation, we will share some key insights that emerged through experimentation with randomly-drawn plate kinematic models.