1 A continental record of the Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE) from the Mercia Mudstone 2 Group (UK): palynology and climatic implications 3 1* 1,2 3 4 4 VIKTÓRIA BARANYI , CHARLOTTE S. MILLER , ALASTAIR RUFFELL , MARK W. HOUNSLOW 1 5 & WOLFRAM M. KÜRSCHNER 6 7 1Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, POB 1047 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway 8 2MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences and Faculty of Geosciences, 9 University of Bremen, Leobener Str. 8 , 28359, Bremen, Germany 10 3School of the Natural and Built Environment, The Queen’s University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, N. 11 Ireland 12 4Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK 13 *Correspondence:
[email protected] 14 15 Abbreviated title: Continental record of the CPE in the UK 16 17 18 19 20 Abstract 21 The generally arid Late Triassic climate was interrupted by a wet phase during the mid 22 Carnian termed Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE). Quantitative palynological data from the 23 Mercia Mudstone Group in the Wessex Basin (UK), reveals vegetation changes and 24 palaeoclimate trends. Palynostratigraphy and bulk organic carbon isotope data enable 1 25 correlation to other Carnian successions. The palynostratigraphy indicates that the 26 Dunscombe Mudstone is Julian and the lowest part of the overlying Branscombe Mudstone 27 Formation is Tuvalian.. The Aulisporites acme characterizing the CPE in Tethyan successions 28 and the Germanic Basin, is missing in the UK. The quantitative palynological record suggests 29 the predominance of xerophyte floral elements with a few horizons of increased hygrophytes. 30 A humidity signal is not seen due to the dry climate in central Pangea.