Cretaceous forests of Antarctica (Geology Section)

To be held by Zoom video conferencing.

A talk “Cretaceous forests of Antarctica: back to the future for climate change” to be given by Prof Howard Falcon-Lang, Royal Holloway, University of London.

Monkey puzzles in the Chilean Andes. Photo © Howard Falcon-Lang.

One hundred million years ago, the Earth was in the grip of an extreme Greenhouse Effect. The polar ice caps had all but melted; in the south, rainforests inhabited by dinosaurs existed in their place. These Antarctic ecosystems were adapted to the long months of winter darkness that occur at the poles. If global warming continues unabated, could these ancient forests be a taste of things to come? Might global warming signal a greener future for Antarctica?

Professor Falcon-Lang will talk about the discoveries that have been made in Antarctica and how the flora and fauna were adapted to the polar light regime.

Important notes

To join this meeting please contact the Organiser (details below). You will in due course be sent instructions on how to log in etc. Please don’t worry if you are not familiar with the Zoom software. It is quite straightforward to use and does not involve any expense. There is also the ability to join the meeting by phone. You will be able to log in a few minutes before the start of the lecture.

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