Looks at the fossil plant history of Antarctica and its relationship to the global record of environmental and climate change.

The fossil history of plant life in Antarctica is central to our understanding of the evolution of vegetation through geological time and also plays a key role in reconstructing past configurations of the continents and associated climatic conditions. This book provides the only detailed overview of the development of Antarctic vegetation from the Devonian period to the present day, presenting Earth scientists with valuable insights into the break up of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Details of specific floras and ecosystems are provided within the context of changing geological, geographical and environmental conditions, alongside comparisons with contemporaneous and modern ecosystems. The authors demonstrate how palaeobotany contributes to our understanding of the paleoenvironmental changes in the southern hemisphere during this period of Earth history. The book is a complete and up-to-date reference for researchers and students in Antarctic paleobotany and terrestrial paleoecology.

Geological information from Antarctica has so far been published in expedition reports, conference proceedings, and science journals. This information is thus not readily accessible to Earth scientists who are interested, but not directly involved, in Antarctic research. The Geology ofAntarctica bridges this gap with each chapter presenting an authoritative review of a particular aspect of Antarctic geology. The text provides descriptions of all major rock units found in Antarctica, as well as reviews of Antarctic palaeontology, geophysics, petroleum prospects, and mineral resources. Special attention is drawn to the features of Antarctica that are significant from the wider perspectives of globalgeology.