Environmental factors for around 359 million years ago in the future Wye Valley area

Rock Name
Avon Group  (former name Lower Limestone Shales)

Lithology (appearance)
Limestones with mudstones, plus some thin sandstones and occasional conglomerates.

Period
Carboniferous

How old
Around 359 million years

Environment  of rock formation
Shallow marine – shelf sea – resulting from marine transgression

Climate
Equatorial – with marine bias

Latitude
15′ S of Equator

Oxygen as percentage of atmosphere
19% (21% today)

Carbon Dioxide as parts per million of atmosphere composition
1500ppm (around 415ppm today and rising)

Maximum day time temperatures
32’C

Minimum night time temperature
15’C

Sea temperature
30’C

Weather risk
High sea temperature, producing heavy rainfall

Midday Sun
High in northern sky

UV index
8

Earthquake risk (scale 1 low risk to 9 high risk)
3

Tectonic
Rheic Ocean closing to the south – rising sea levels

Volcano risk
None in area

Top predator
Sharks

Animal Life
Crinoids, brachipods, algae, sharks

Plant Life
Forests on land

Humidity

Rainfall
Heavy

Wind

Day length
22 hours

Days in year
398