The concentration in ferromagnetic particles is much lower in the interglacial sediments than in glacial sediments. Therefore, the NRM needs to be normalised by a concentration-related parameter, such as κLF, ARM or SIRM, in order to generate relative paleointensity records free of the effects of concentration (Fig. 5). The three intensity records look quite similar in the topmost part of the sedimentary column, but intensity values are lower in the bottom of the column when using κLF or SIRM instead of ARM as a concentration parameter. Low values of ARM/SIRM are also observed in the bottom of the sedimentary column, while SIRM values remain constant. The discrepancies between the relative paleointensity records result from a relative high amount of coarse magnetic grains (high values of SIRM), which lower the intensity carried by small magnetic particles preferentially contributing to the ARM.
Down-core variations of normalised relative paleointensity after removal of intervals affected by diagenesis (magnetite dissolution and/or greigite formation) and correlation to the relative paleointensity record from ODP Site 984 (Channell, 1999). In addition to AMS 14C dating and the geomagnetic excursions, the age model was completed and refined by tuning the relative paleointensity records to the equivalent record from ODP Site 984 (Channell, 1999; Fig. 8). The relative paleointensity variations in Lake Baikal and ODP Site 984 are well correlated. This confirms the global geomagnetic field origin of the relative paleointensity variations documented in the present study. In addition, it shows that local sedimentary variations have no effect on the paleomagnetic records.