Author(s)

Vandana Prasad

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, India.

The Deccan Volcanism during the Late Cretaceous was a globally significant geological event, coinciding with the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary. The magma outpouring occurred in three phases. The flora that got preserved during the first phase (30N) was a mixed gymnosperm and angiosperm flora ranging from dry to moist forest vegetation. The second phase (29R) flora is mostly represented by pteridophytes and tropical to sub-tropical angiosperm plant families. The palynofloral records from the third phase (29N) are mostly tropical angiosperms. This floral turn-over is driven by latitudinal shifting of the Indian plate from sub-tropical to tropical zone. It is surmised that the latitudinal shifting of Indian plate during the span of 4 Ma during the Late Maastrichtian led to the development of new ecological conditions favoring successful dominance of angiosperms over gymnosperms.

Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP), Pollen, Spores, Plant Mega Fossils, Paleoecology

Prasad, V. (2019) Late Cretaceous Climate of the Indian Subcontinent. Open Journal of Geology, 9, 692-695. doi: 10.4236/ojg.2019.910077.