What important events occurred during the Paleozoic Era?
5 major events occurred during this era: (1) the formation of the Sun and light, (2) the creation of the Earth, (3) the creation of the atmosphere through volcanic out-gassing, (4) the creation of the oceans, and (5) the creation of life.
What was the Earth like during the Paleozoic Era?
The Paleozoic Era, which ran from about 542 million years ago to 251 million years ago, was a time of great change on Earth. The era began with the breakup of one supercontinent and the formation of another. Plants became widespread. And the first vertebrate animals colonized land.
What Mineral Resource was formed during the Paleozoic Era?
Much coal was produced during the Carboniferous Period of the Paleozoic Era over 300 million years ago when giant swamp forest dominated many parts of Earth. The accumulation of the bodies of these plants through the years resulted in vast coal deposits. The process of coal formation is called coalification.
What information did scientists use when developing the geologic time scale?
Scientists first developed the geologic time scale by studying rock layers and index fossils worldwide. With this information, scientists placed Earth’s rock layers in order by relative age. Later, radioactive dating helped determine the absolute age of the divisions in the geologic time scale.
What covered much of Earth during the early Paleozoic era?
It extended from the northern tropics to the southern polar regions. With the exception of three major cratons (landmasses forming the stable interiors of continents) not part of the initial configuration of Gondwana, the remainder of Earth was covered by the global Panthalassic Ocean.
What was Earth’s surface like during the Carboniferous Period?
Early in the Carboniferous Period, Earth’s climate was warm. Later, glaciers formed at the poles, while equatorial regions were often warm and humid. Earth’s climate became similar to today’s, shifting between glacial and interglacial periods.
What are the major geological processes?
The four major geological processes are impact cratering, volcanism, tectonics, and erosion. Earth has experienced many impacts, but most craters have been erased by other processes.
What major geologic events happened in the Precambrian era?
This era began with the formation of the earth from dust and gas orbiting the Sun about 4.6 billion years ago. During this era the surface of the Earth was like popular visions about Hades: oceans of liquid rock, boiling sulfur, and impact craters everywhere!
When did shallow tropical seas cover southern Ontario?
Around 360 to 450 million years ago
Around 360 to 450 million years ago, the Niagara Escarpment was the edge of a warm, shallow sea that covered part of modern day Southern Ontario. At that time, the North American continent was much further south, so that Ontario had a sub-tropical climate.
Was Ohio a shallow sea?
Ohio is still under a warm, shallow sea about 20 degrees south of the equator.
