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Why were temperature differences between the Equator and the poles less extreme during the Triassic?
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Triassic Period
Distribution of landmasses, mountainous regions, shallow seas, and deep ocean basins during the early Triassic Period. Included in the paleogeographic reconstruction are the locations of the interval's subduction zones.
During the Triassic Period, temperature differences between the Equator and the poles were less extreme than they are today primarily because there was no polar ice present.1
The absence of polar ice contributed to a more homogeneous global climate compared to modern conditions. While the supercontinent Pangea might have been expected to experience extreme seasonal temperature variations, paleoclimatic evidence suggests that the climate was moderated by other factors, such as a monsoonal climate that developed during the Middle and Late Triassic. Additionally, the vast size of the Panthalassa ocean likely resulted in relatively simple oceanic circulation patterns, which helped distribute heat.1