Environmental factors for around 225 million years ago in the Voyage area
Rock Name
Mercia Mudstone Group
Lithology (appearance)
Dominantly red, less commonly green-grey, mudstones and subordinate siltstones with thick halite-bearing units in some basinal areas. Thin beds of gypsum/anhydrite widespread; sandstones are also present.
Period
Triassic
How old
Around 225 million years
Environment of rock formation
Hot dry plains, with dust stores and occasional rainstorms producing lakes which then evaporate to leave halite (salt) and gypsum deposits
Climate
Hot. Arid
Latitude
30′ N of Equator
Oxygen as percentage of atmosphere
17% (21% today)
Carbon Dioxide as parts per million of atmosphere composition
1200ppm (around 415ppm today and rising)
Maximum day time temperatures
35’C
Minimum night time temperature
15’C
Sea temperature
Weather risk
Flash floods. Dust storms. Extreme heat
Midday Sun
High in southern sky
UV index
10
Earthquake risk (scale 1 low risk to 9 high risk)
10
Tectonic
In midst of Panagea supercontinent
Volcano risk
None in area
Top predator
Triassic reptiles
Animal Life
Reptiles diversifying and becoming larger
Plant Life
Trees like conifers – no grasses or flowers
Humidity
Low
Rainfall
Late summer producing flash floods
Wind
Mainly from E to NE
Day length
23 hours
Days in year
377