Summary of Triassic Environment

1)      Pangea formed

2)      Relatively hot and arid (evidence from red beds and sand dunes)

3)      No polar ice caps

4)      Dry, continental climate

SUMMARY OF JURASSIC ENVIRONMENT

1)      Pangea more or less intact

2)      Relatively more equable conditions (red beds replaced by sandstone, mudstone, limestones)

3)      Sea level rise  epicontinental seas

4)      Increase rainfall

5)      More extensively forested areas

6)      No polar ice caps

7)      Warmer than today  equatorial deserts but wetter subtropical and warmer temperate zones

SUMMARY OF CRETACEOUS ENVIRONMENT

1)      Pangea breaking up  Gondwana and Laurasia

2)      Sea levels continued to rise

3)      Warm and hot in general

4)      Laurasia  wetter and more seasonal conditions

5)      No ice caps  poles warmer than today (estimated between 0o and 15o C)