中、新生代全球尺度地质过程及其对自然环境的影响

GEOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF GLOBAL-SCALE AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS DURING MESOZOIC AND CENOZOIC

中、新生代是地球岩石圈经历重大构造演化 ,最终形成现今地球面貌的时代。研究对中、新生代全球级环境变化有重大影响的地质作用过程 ,对从整体上把握和理解环境演变的规律和原因 ,最终实现对环境变化的预测有重要意义。中生代开始不久 ,位于赤道附近的联合古陆便解体分裂 ,全球大陆和大洋逐渐演变成现今的分布格局。与此相伴 ,地球的地形、地貌也发生了重大变化。中生代造山运动造就的山脉和其后由构造隆升形成的高原 ,也是影响全球气候的主要因素之一。中、新生代的多次大规模火山活动 ,造成气候、环境的快速变化 ,甚至导致大规模生物灭绝。在中白垩世期间 ,发生了一系列全球规模的构造运动现象 ,它们与地球深部的超地幔柱有关。文中也通过天体撞击作用探讨了地外因素对地球环境和生命演化的影响。

During the Mesozoic and Cenozoic time, the earth lithosphere experienced significant tectonic changes and finally shaped into the present-day feature of the Earth. We attempt to study the geological processes of global-scale, which have great influence on the natural environment over this period. It would be of importance to grasp and understand the rules and reasons of environmental evolution as a whole, and to realize the prediction of environmental change. In early Mesozoic time, the ancient continent near the equator broke up and gradually formed the modern pattern of oceans and continents on the earth. Meanwhile the physical feature and landforms of the earth have changed greatly. Mountains produced by the orogenic movement in the Mesozoic time and plateaus formed thereafter by tectonic uplift become an important factor that influences the global climate. Many times of volcanic eruption on large-scale led to rapid change of climate and environment, and even the widespread extinction of living things. During the Cretaceous time, a series of tectonic events on global-scale occurred, which were associated with super mantle plumes in the deep earth. Strikes of celestial bodies against the earth surface represented the possible impact of extraterrestrial factors upon the environment and life evolution on the earth.