The late Jurassic period, 150 million years ago, was a time of immense geological change, with land masses almost unrecognizable from their current forms, the emergence of the Atlantic Ocean and the largest known volcano, TAMU masif, spewing massive amounts of CO2 into the ocean and atmosphere. The period was also characterized by extreme temperatures, with seawater averaging 32.1 de C or 90° F, 25% hotter than the current average. The northern and southern hemispheres saw significant amounts of dry biomes, including deserts and savannas, while drier ecosystems gave way to lush expanses towards the equator. Earth was experiencing climactic conditions not seen for nearly 50 million years.