Geologic Time Period Project
Landforms
Flora (plants)
Fauna (animals)
Extinctions
Climate
Names:_________________________________
Date:__________Period:____
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
- First supercontinent
“Rodinia” had just
broken apart
- Plate tectonics,
mountain building
- Pangaea formed
- Breakup of
“Pangaea”
- Tectonic activity,
mountain building
- Sea levels rose
- Major tectonic activity,
continents moved to
their current positions
- Rainforests covered
the earth
- Vascular plants
appeared (allowed for
taller, stronger plants)
- Ferns
- Flowering plants first
evolved
- Grasslands spread
- Many more flowering
plants
- Reptiles appear
- Amphibians
- Fishes w/backbones
(vert)
- Trilobites (org w/hard
parts)
- Marine life!!
- (Stromatolites in
Precambrian)
- Birds evolve
- Dinosaurs,
Crocodiles, early
mammals evolve,
ocean/air reptiles
evolve
- Hominids, humans,
cats, whales, bats
- End of Paleozoic Era
was the Permian
Extinction (more than
90% of species died)
- 1st mass extinction
ended the Ordovican
period (marine life)
- Global cooling
continued
- Variable but cooler
- Ozone formed
- Cretaceous extinction - Due to changes in CO2,
ended Mesozoic era
we could be entering the
and rid dinosaurs
world’s next extinction?
- Just like the extinction
that killed the dinosaurs?
- Sandy, desert interior
- Poles moist,
temperate
- Variable but warmer
1 - Most recent ice age
- Climate changed back
and forth, warmer and
cooler
Landforms
Flora (plants)
Fauna (animals)
Extinctions
Climate
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
- First supercontinent
“Rodinia” had just
broken apart
- Plate tectonics,
mountain building
- Pangaea formed
- Breakup of
“Pangaea”
- Tectonic activity,
mountain building
- Sea levels rose
- Major tectonic activity,
continents moved to
their current positions
- Rainforests covered
the earth
- Vascular plants
appeared (allowed for
taller, stronger plants)
- Ferns
- Flowering plants first
evolved
- Grasslands spread
- Many more flowering
plants
- Reptiles appear
- Amphibians
- Fishes w/backbones
(vert)
- Trilobites (org w/hard
parts)
- Marine life!!
- (Stromatolites in
Precambrian)
- Birds evolve
- Dinosaurs,
Crocodiles, early
mammals evolve,
ocean/air reptiles
evolve
- Hominids, humans,
cats, whales, bats
- End of Paleozoic Era
was the Permian
Extinction (more than
90% of species died)
- 1st mass extinction
ended the Ordovican
period (marine life)
- Cretaceous extinction
ended Mesozoic era
and rid dinosaurs
- Due to changes in
CO2, we could be
entering the world’s next
extinction?
- Just like the extinction
that killed the dinosaurs?
- Global cooling
continued
- Variable but cooler
- Ozone formed
- Sandy, desert interior
- Poles moist,
temperate
- Variable but warmer
- Most recent ice age
2 - Climate changed back
and forth, warmer and
cooler
Landforms
Flora (plants)
Fauna (animals)
Extinctions
Climate
Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
- First supercontinent
“Rodinia” had just
broken apart
- Plate tectonics,
mountain building
- Pangaea formed
- Breakup of
“Pangaea”
- Tectonic activity,
mountain building
- Sea levels rose
- Major tectonic activity,
continents moved to
their current positions
- Rainforests covered
the earth
- Vascular plants
appeared (allowed for
taller, stronger plants)
- Ferns
- Flowering plants first
evolved
- Grasslands spread
- Many more flowering
plants
- Reptiles appear
- Amphibians
- Fishes w/backbones
(vert)
- Trilobites (org w/hard
parts)
- Marine life!!
- (Stromatolites in
Precambrian)
- Birds evolve
- Dinosaurs,
Crocodiles, early
mammals evolve,
ocean/air reptiles
evolve
- Hominids, humans,
cats, whales, bats
- End of Paleozoic Era
was the Permian
Extinction (more than
90% of species died)
- 1st mass extinction
ended the Ordovican
period (marine life)
- Global cooling
continued
- Variable but cooler
- Ozone formed
- Cretaceous extinction - Due to changes in CO2,
ended Mesozoic era
we could be entering the
and rid dinosaurs
world’s next extinction?
- Just like the extinction
that killed the dinosaurs?
- Sandy, desert interior
- Poles moist,
temperate
- Variable but warmer
3 - Most recent ice age
- Climate changed back
and forth, warmer and
cooler
1. Precambrian Earth a. Formation of the Earth i. Early heat sources ii. Evidence of age of the earth b. land formation c. atmosphere formation and compostion i. lack of oxygen in beginning ii. cyanobacteria make oxygen iii. evidence of oxygen seen in red beds d. water sources and ocean formation 2. Geologic Time a. Divisions (Eon, era, period, epoch) b. 3 eras i. Paleozoic 1. Landforms, flora, fauna, climate extinctions ii. Mesozoic 1. Landforms, flora, fauna, climate extinctions iii. Cenozoic 1. Landforms, flora, fauna, climate extinctions c. Trangression/Regression i. Implications for scientists studying shorelines 3. Ch. 11 Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere a. Conduction, Convection, Radiation b. How each transfers heat in the atmosphere 4. Climate a. Natural influences on climate i. Rotation of earth ii. Topography iii. Proximity to large bodies of water iv. Tilt of earth v. Latitude vi. Air masses b. Greenhouse Effect i. Describe what it is ii. List the main gases involved 1. CO2, H20, CH4, N20, O3, CFC’s c. Human influences on climate i. Ways we influence climate (deforestation, industry, etc.) ii. Ways to reduce impact (Recycling, reduced emissions, alternative energy resources, etc. 4