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