What did Earth look like in the Jurassic? (201.4–143.1 Ma)

Key events of this period

• Triassic Extinction

  201 Ma

  Around 201 million years ago, Central Atlantic Magmatic Province eruptions coincided with mass extinction. Alongside longer greenhouse warming, brief sulfur-driven volcanic winters are a proposed kill mechanism; surviving dinosaurs later expanded into more ecological roles.

  References: Dinosaurs Thrived After Ice, Not Fire, Says a New Study of Ancient Volcanism — Columbia Climate School

• Karoo-Ferrar LIP

  183 Ma

  Around 183 million years ago, Karoo–Ferrar volcanism spread across still-connected Gondwana. Massive carbon release is linked to Toarcian warming and marine oxygen loss, while researchers also investigate how changing plate speeds controlled the timing of eruptions.

  References: Reduced plate motion controlled timing of Early Jurassic Karoo-Ferrar large igneous province volcanism

• Pangaea Breakup

  175 Ma

  Pangaea’s rifts began developing into new ocean basins around 200 million years ago. By 175 million years ago, breakup was already underway: new oceanic crust formed between separating continents as the Atlantic widened.

  References: What was Pangea? — U.S. Geological Survey · Breakup of Pangea and the Cretaceous Revolution

• Early Birds: Archaeopteryx

  150 Ma

  Around 150 million years ago, Archaeopteryx combined feathered wings with a long bony tail. A 2025 study identified inner wing feathers that filled the gap between wing and body, strengthening the evidence for active flight. This fossil records an early stage of bird evolution, rather than a precisely dated first flight.

  References: Chicago Archaeopteryx informs on the early evolution of the avian bauplan (2025) · Wing bone geometry reveals active flight in Archaeopteryx (2018)