Reply

Abstract

Fukuma indicates that dispersion (k) of paleomagnetic sediment samples from the same age horizon depends on intrinsic directional dispersion (κ_s) of magnetic moments and experimental error dispersion (κ_e), where dispersion is expressed by a precision parameter of Fisher distribution. He attempts to quantitatively estimate κ_s, and concluded that contribution of the intrinsic dispersion rcr to the dispersion k obtained by paleomagnetic measurements is negligible and then the error dispersion κ_e should make a major contribution. We admit necessity of taking account of experimental error, but disagree with his conclusion. The quantitative estimation for κ_s and the subsequent argument are based on very doubtful grounds.