The influence of vegetation cover on soil organic matter preservation in Antarctica during the Mesozoic

A possible biological component of the explanation for the lack of substant ial coal formation on Antarctica between the Late Jurassic and Late Cretace ous is hypothesised. Forcing a process-based terrestrial biogeochemistry mo del with climate model simulations for three successive intervals of the Me sozoic [Late Jurassic (150 Ma), mid-Cretaceous (100 Ma) and Late Cretaceous (65 Ma)], predicts the establishment of productive terrestrial ecosystems with substantial soil carbon pools throughout the land surface of Antarctic a between 150 and 65 million years ago. Sensitivity analyses indicate the a nnual land surface hydrological budget of Antarctica 150 - 65 Ma was largel y balanced due to the effects of canopy transpiration on soil moisture. Pos t-depositional erosion and tectonic setting must have played an important r ole in determining coal preservation on the continent. However, the model r esults indicate that an active vegetated land surface precluded the preserv ation of the substantial soil organic carbon inputs by minimising the poten tial for anaerobic preservation (i.e. water logging).