Interesting facts about the surface layer, sedimentary rock where my farm is at here in Texas.
The Pliocene epoch was a time of global cooling and drying that occurred between 5.33 and 2.58 million years ago:
Climate
The Pliocene was a transition between the warmer Miocene and the cooler Pleistocene epochs.
The average global temperature was 2–3°C higher than today, but carbon dioxide levels were similar. The climate became more seasonal, and tropical species decreased in number.
Sea levels
Global sea levels were 25 meters higher than today. The Mediterranean Sea catastrophically refilled after the African and Eurasian continents collided and closed the basin.
Faunal evolution
The Pliocene saw the evolution of elephants and Australopithecus. The first humans (Homo habilis) appeared in Africa near the end of the period.
Faunal migration
The formation of the Panamanian bridge allowed animals to migrate between North and South America. This event is known as the “Great American Faunal Interchange”.
Ocean circulation
The narrowing of the Indonesian Seaway and closure of the Central American Isthmus produced a modern pattern of ocean circulation.
Volcanic activity
The Columbia River and Snake River plateaus were formed by flood basalts in the Pacific Northwest.