Jurassic climate of large swath of western US was more complex than previously known: Unexpected abrupt change from arid to wet
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 14:30
in Earth & Climate
Climate over a large swath of the western US was more complex during the Jurassic than previously known, according to new research. Instead of a gradual transition from dry to wetter, chemical analysis of ancient soils reveals an unexpected abrupt change, say paleontologists. Samples were from the Morrison Formation, a massive rock unit sprawling across 13 states and Canada that's produced significant dinosaur discoveries for over 100 years.