Triassic

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Stadtroda Sandstein

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Obere Schaumkalkbank am Altenberg bei Dörzbach 280308

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Kirnbergaufschluss

230 Ma plate tectonic reconstruction

Pangaea (230 million years ago)

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(1)Saunders Quarry-1

Triassic is a geologic period and system that spans 50.6 million years from the end of the Permian Period 251.9 million years ago (Mya), to the beginning of the Jurassic Period 201.3 Mya. The Triassic is the first period of the Mesozoic Era, and is divided into three epochs: Early, Middle, and Late. Similarly, it is subdivided into the Lower, Middle, and Upper series. The period is marked by the recovery of the planet after the Permian–Triassic extinction event, the deadliest mass extinction in Earth's history, which left the planet's biodiversity significantly reduced.

Geology

The Triassic period saw the rise of significant geological formations, including the supercontinent Pangaea, which was surrounded by the world ocean Panthalassa. The interior of Pangaea was arid, with vast deserts that left a record of red beds and evaporites. Throughout the Triassic, Pangaea began to rift apart, leading to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and the formation of the Tethys Sea, setting the stage for the Mesozoic world geography.

Climate

The climate of the Triassic was generally hot and dry, with seasonal monsoons in areas. This climate facilitated the dominance of reptiles and the evolution of the first dinosaurs, which would go on to dominate the planet in the subsequent Jurassic period. The end of the Triassic was marked by a significant climate shift and one of the Phanerozoic's major extinction events, which again altered the course of life on Earth.

Flora and Fauna

The Triassic period was a time of transition in the history of life. The flora was dominated by gymnosperms, including conifers, cycads, and ginkgoes, which were well adapted to the dry climate. The period also saw the first appearance of many modern groups of insects.

In terms of fauna, the Triassic was a period of recovery and diversification following the Permian-Triassic extinction. Early reptiles, including the ancestors of crocodiles and dinosaurs, began to dominate the landscape. The oceans were populated by marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, as well as a variety of ammonites and other invertebrates. The first true mammals also appeared during the Late Triassic, evolving from advanced cynodonts.

End of the Triassic

The Triassic period ended with another mass extinction event, which is not as well understood as the one that ended the Permian. This event saw the extinction of many marine and terrestrial species and allowed dinosaurs to become the dominant terrestrial vertebrates in the Jurassic period.

Legacy

The Triassic period is crucial for understanding the evolution of life on Earth, the movement of continents, and the changes in climate that have occurred over millions of years. It sets the stage for the rise of dinosaurs and the Mesozoic world that followed.