Phanerozoic Paleoclimate

Book excerpt: This publication combines the interpretations of two major sets of data. One if the geophysical data that is used to interpret the position of the tectonic plates through geologic time. The other is based on a long time search of the geological literature to find, record, and evaluate the lithologic descriptions of countless reports around the globe; paying careful attention to those lithologies that have climatic implications. The introduction to this volume includes a detailed discussion of the lithologies, mineralogies and biogeographies that are considered to be the most reliable in identifying the climatic conditions existing during their formation and how they are used or not used in this compilation. Global paleoclimatic zones based on the climatically interpreted data points are identified during the twenty-eight time periods from Cambrian to Miocene using paleotectonic reconstructed maps. The paleoclimate of each time period is summarized and includes a discussion of the specific referenced data points that have been interpreted to be the most reliable available for that time period and location.