Environmental factors for around 310 million years ago in the future Wren’s Nest area

Rock Name
Pennine Coal Measures (Lower and Middle)

Lithology (appearance)
Interbedded grey mudstones, siltstone and pale grey sandstone, numerous coal seams. Some marine fossils in Middle Coal Measures.

Period
Carboniferous – Upper

How old
Around 310 million years

Environment  of rock formation
Hot wet rainforest. Drained by rivers flowing north

Climate
Equatorial – hot humid

Latitude
On/near Equator

Oxygen as percentage of atmosphere
35% (21% today)

Carbon Dioxide as parts per million of atmosphere composition
340ppm (around 415ppm today and rising)

Maximum day time temperatures
38’C

Minimum night time temperature
26’C

Sea temperature

Weather risk
Lightning causing mega forest fires – high oxygen

Midday Sun
Sun overhead no shade, except in rainforest

UV index
10

Earthquake risk (scale 1 low risk to 9 high risk)
7

Tectonic
Variscan Mts to south

Volcano risk
Ash falls and earthquakes – perhaps tsunami

Top predator
Scorpion

Animal Life
Giant dragonflies and arthropods

Plant Life
Forests of Lepidodendron, Sigillaria, Calamites

Humidity
Very high

Rainfall
Frequent torrential thunderstorms

Wind

Day length
22.7 hours

Days in year
389