We can make a second similar trial of the transgression rule if we no longer consider the history of the whole earth, but confine ourselves to a limited space. It can be seen on the latitude curve of Central Europe (Fig. 19, on page 110) that Europe approached the pole from the Carboniferous to the beginning of the Jurassic (in front of the pole), from this to the Eocene it departed from it (behind the pole), and thence to the Quaternary approached it very closely again (in front of the pole). The European transgressions and regressions completely correspond throughout.
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Fig.23.—Transgression (dotted), regression (shaded), and wandering of the poles between the Lower Carboniferous and Upper Permian.
Regression universally prevailed from the Carboniferous to the beginning of the Jurassic, but then great transgressions set in which created the Jurassic and Cretaceous seas, and which laid a great portion of Europe under water until the Eocene. From this period commenced a striking regression, which led to the complete emergence of Europe. It certainly can be no accident that the rule thus holds so well.[1]
- ↑ Of course, not all fluctuations of level will be explained in this manner. Another cause, the depression through the loading with inland ice, has already been described. Moreover, the formation of great polar ice-caps must have as a consequence a marked
