The Jurassic-Cretaceous Transition in Southern England

• Description

The Portland, Purbeck and Wealden rocks of southern England tell a fascinating story of environmental change during latest Jurassic and early Cretaceous times, about 140-120 million years ago. From the spectacular coastal sections of Dorset, the Isle of Wight and East Sussex, to inland quarries, cuttings and natural outcrops comes a wealth of evidence for a shallow subtropical sea ultimately replaced at a higher latitude by lagoons, lakes and river plains influenced by changing sea levels, climate and upland relief. The region also boasts the type sections of the terminal Jurassic Stage and the type areas of the Purbeck and Wealden beds.

This volume documents the evidence from 72 GCR sites (sedimentological, biostratigraphical, palaeoecological, geochemical, geophysical) and discusses it in the contexts of contemporary palaeoclimatology and tectonics. Work reviewed extends from that of the 18th century pioneers to present-day researchers.