Introduction


Early Cretaceous


Mid-Cretaceous


Late Cretaceous


Palaeontological
Evidence


Sedimentological
Evidence


Isotope Evidence


Summary


Glossary


Further Reading


Climate Change Home Page


KT Event
Links


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Bristol Palaeontology
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Early Cretaceous

General

The Cretaceous Period was a time of considerable geological activity.

In the Early Cretaceous the supercontinent, Gondwanaland began to break up:

  • India began to move north;
  • the North Atlantic began to open;
This was marked by widespread volcanism and had significant consequences on the distribution of plants and animals across the Earth's surface.

There were polar land masses such as North Alaska (in Arctic Circle) and South Australia (in Antarctic Circle) and sea levels were 25 m higher than they are today.

Climate The Early Cretaceous Wealden freshwater sediments and plants of Europe indicate warm humid conditions.

 
 

| Intro | Early Cretaceous | Mid-Cretaceous | Late Cretaceous |

| Palaeontological Evidence | Sedimentological Evidence | Isotope Evidence |

| Summary | Glossary | Further Reading | Climate Change Home Page | KT Event Links | Back to Bristol Palaeontology Homepage |