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Upper Carboniferous period

Upper Carboniferous period

9.9
A time about 310 to 280 million years ago with warm swampy land where much coal formed
  • noun
  • /ˈʌpər ˌkɑrbəˈnɪfərəs ˈpɪrɪəd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : período Carbonífero Superior
  • The Upper Carboniferous period was marked by extensive tropical swamps and lush vegetation.

Examples

  • Many coal beds formed during the Upper Carboniferous period are still mined today.

  • Fossils from the Upper Carboniferous period provide important clues about Earth's prehistoric climate.

  • The Upper Carboniferous period was characterized by lush vegetation.

  • During the Upper Carboniferous period, coal deposits formed extensively.

  • Fossils from the Upper Carboniferous period provide important clues about Earth's prehistoric climate.

  • The Upper Carboniferous period was marked by extensive tropical swamps and lush vegetation.

  • Many coal beds formed during the Upper Carboniferous period are still mined today.

Synonyms

Upper Carboniferous
vsUpper Carboniferous period
  • Specialized
9.9

A late part of Earth's history 310 to 280 million years ago with swamp forests that formed coal

is identical in meaning but includes the explicit noun indicating the time span

Surface Forms

Morphology

upper + Carboniferous + period

The phrase is fully compositional: 'upper' indicates the later/higher part, 'Carboniferous' names the geological period, and 'period' denotes a time interval, so together they mean the later subdivision of the Carboniferous. This follows common naming patterns (e.g. Upper/Lower + geological period) that are cross-linguistically familiar, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Upper Carboniferous period comes from the name Carboniferous, which points to a time when many 'coal' layers formed, and the word Upper marks the later part of that time. So the name tells us it is the later, warm, swampy age long ago when a lot of coal was made.