Thematic set: The Mid-Carnian Episode Journal of the Geological Society Published online October 4, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2018-053 | Vol. 176 | 2019 | pp. 133–148 The Schilfsandstein and its flora; arguments for a humid mid-Carnian episode? M. Franz1*, E. Kustatscher2,3,4, C. Heunisch5, S. Niegel1 & H.-G. Röhling5 1 Geowissenschaftliches Zentrum der Universität Göttingen, Abteilung Angewandte Geologie, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany 2 Museum of Nature South Tyrol, Bindergasse/via Bottai 1, 39100 Bozen/Bolzano, Italy 3 Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Paläontologie und Geobiologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, 80333 München, Germany 4 Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geobiologie, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, 80333 München, Germany 5 Landesamt für Bergbau, Energie und Geologie, Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany M.F., 0000-0002-7054-9862; E.K., 0000-0002-0300-0175 * Correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract: Recently intensified research on the mid-Carnian episode stimulated discussions about the mid-Carnian climate and a supposed humid climate shift. This basin-scale study on the Schilfsandstein, the type-example of the mid-Carnian episode, applied sedimentological, palynological and palaeobotanical proxies of the palaeoclimate to a large dataset of cored wells and outcrops. The results demonstrate the primary control of circum-Tethyan eustatic cycles on the Central European Basin where transgressions contributed to basin-scale facies shifts. The palaeoclimate proxies point to a uniform arid to semi-arid Carnian climate with low chemical weathering and high evaporation. Consequently, transgressions into the Central European Basin led to increased evaporation forcing the hydrological cycle. The increased runoff from source areas resulted in high-groundwater stages on lowlands characterized by hydromorphic palaeosols and intrazonal vegetation with hygrophytic elements.