When the Triassic Period began, 245 million years ago, there was only one continent on Earth, a super-continent called Pangaea. But Pangaea separated into two lesser continents Laurasia and Gondwanaland. The climate of this time period was warmer than that of today. There appeared to be a difference between summer and winter during this time. The global temperature averaged around 50º to 60º F. Toward the end of period, however, the global climate began to become drier and hotter and deserts began to appear on much of Pangaea's surface area. Animals that survived during this time period, were Fish, insects, reptiles, and cone-bearing plants; one of the most well known pre-historic animals- Dinosaurs.
The cause of the mass extinction was a asteroid that hit the earth Billions of years ago. The Dinosaurs and most life disappeared after the asteroid hit the earth. The climate became hot and the rain increased with raised the water levels.
The climate during this time became both hot and dry.