What Was Your Country's Climate During the Jurassic?
April 28, 2026
The Jurassic period, 145 to 201 million years ago, was one of the warmest eras in Earth's history. There were no polar ice caps, sea levels were high, and much of the planet was blanketed by lush forests. But the climate varied enormously by region and latitude.
The Global Jurassic Climate
Average global temperatures during the Jurassic were 3 to 8 degrees Celsius higher than today. The poles were ice-free and forested. Carbon dioxide levels were estimated at 4 to 8 times higher than pre-industrial levels.
However, the Jurassic was not uniformly wet. Continental interiors of the Pangea landmass, which was beginning to break apart, remained seasonally arid with strong monsoon patterns.
Climate by Region in the Jurassic
- United Kingdom and northern Europe: Warm and subtropical, similar to the modern Mediterranean. Fossil marine reptiles have been found in Jurassic strata across England.
- United States: The east was warm and subtropical; the southwest was seasonally arid. The dinosaur sites of Utah and Colorado formed in this dry Jurassic environment.
- China: Northern China was warm and productive, supporting the extraordinary feathered dinosaur fauna found in Liaoning province.
- Brazil and South America: Hot and wet in the north, drier toward the south.
- Australia: Still part of Gondwana, with cool temperate to cold conditions in high-latitude zones, covered by polar forests.
- India: Positioned south of the equator on Gondwana, experiencing a cooler climate with seasonal monsoons.
- Scandinavia and Finland: Warm and humid subtropical conditions very different from the cold climate of today.
- Sahara and North Africa: Not yet desert. Parts were covered by shallow seas or forested lowlands during the Jurassic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the entire world tropical during the Jurassic?
No. Climate still varied by latitude. Polar regions were forested but not tropical. Continental interiors were often seasonally dry despite the overall warmth.
Were deserts common during the Jurassic?
Yes, particularly in continental interiors. The red rock formations of the American Southwest, such as Zion and Arches National Parks, were Jurassic desert dunes.
Why was the Jurassic so warm?
Higher volcanic activity pumped more CO2 into the atmosphere, driving greenhouse warming. With no polar ice to reflect sunlight, the warming was further amplified.