The cretaceous world

The rich geological record of the Cretaceous Period reveals a world that experienced extreme climatic warmth and significantly higher global sea levels than today. It therefore provides a natural case study of the Earth in 'greenhouse' climatic mode, which this interdisciplinary textbook analyses from the perspective of Earth System Science. The book explores the interactions between the physical, chemical and biological processes occurring both within the Earth and at its surface. These processes control the prevailing environmental conditions on Earth and the book highlights the major differences between the Cretaceous and the present world. Comparison of the global carbon cycle, then and now, is emphasised, although other relevant biogeochemical cycles are also discussed. Finally, the infamous mass extinction that terminated the period, and its possible causes, are investigated.