Vegetational changes and their climatic implications in coal-bearing Gondwana

Abstract

An attempt has been made to decipher the climatic changes during the Lower Gondwana times of India, particularly during the coal forming period. The synthesis has been done mainly on the available data of plant characteristics flora and vegetation. It is observed that the climate was essentially temperate during the Lower Gondwana. The climate was very cold during the sedimentation of Talchir rocks and it has gradually ameliorated in Kharharbari, Barakar, Kulti and Raniganj period with increase in humidity and rain fall, sudden fluctuations of dry and semi-arid conditions were experienced in the deposition of Kulti and Kamthi formations.