Caribbean Studies GEOGRAPHYES CARIBBEAN STUDE GEOGRAPHY COMPONENT 1. Location and Definition of the Caribbean Region and its diaspora a) Geographical location: i) names of territories ii) sub-regions eg. Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Bahamas mainland iii) position of territories in relation to the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, the continental landmasses b) Definitions of the Caribbean Region: i) geographical ii)geological 2. Impact of geographical phenomena a) Plate Tectonics: i) definition ii) location and movement of the Caribbean plate and its interaction with other plates iii) earthquakes and volcarices- threat of tsunami, social displacement b) Hurricanes: social and economic consequences ¢) Soils- erosion, conservation d) Coral reefs: coastal protection, sustainability of fishing industry ) Droughts and floods- social and economic impactPlate tectoni In the Caribbean, there are d even caves. There is a reason such features occur ‘ics seeks to explains this. Plate Tect the Earth's crust and how their movern mention continental drift. What is a plate? ‘A plate/crustal plate is a rigid segment of the Earth's crust which can float scross the heavier, semi molten rock below. Both oceans and landmasses ere carried on plates. ‘There are 2 types of plates: volcanoes an io. The Theory of Plate Tecton: the plates which make up Jandform at the surface - fold mountains, where they d conics is the study of ents affect the 1. Oceanic plate- heavier, made up of silica and magnesium, referred to as sima. 2, Continental plate- lighter, made up of silica and aluminum, referred to as sial ove due to convection current/cells in the mantle. The heat from the magma in mantle to move upwards to the crust. As it moves cools, moving sideways and then sinks towards the core s powerful convection cells.edge of plates (where 2 plates meet are called plate margins or plate ‘boundaries. Due to the direction of the plate movement, different margins are created and different tectonic activities (movement of rock} occur. There are _ Teaches the ariace ormation of volcanoes. through € formed at the subduction zone: The sedimentsBetween two oceanic plates, volcanoes are built up and eventually appear above the sea level, creating volcanic islands. An‘island arc is a chain of these volcanic islands (archipelago). The Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean was formed this way (converging of the Caribbean Plate with the North and South American Plate) The South American plate is moving westwardly (due to sea floor spreading). Where it meets the Caribbean plate, it descents (subducts). This is because the South American plate is heavier. As the South American plate subducts, it drags against the Caribbean Plate, fracturing and deforming the rocks. Earthquakes are formed in this zone. Continued subduction of the South American plated takes sea water (trapped im oceanic crust) deep into the mantle. Magma rises and is erupted violently. The Caribbean volcanic islands form a curved chain, parallel to the margin.boundaries are formed when two plates move away from each other. it occurs under water it is called sea floor spreading. The Mid- Atlantic s formed this way. It stretches the entire length of the Atlantic Ocean. plates move apart, material from the mantle moves upwards to fill that quiet eruptionsThe Caribbean Plate and its boundaries 1. There is a transform margin to the north of the Caribbean Plate. It affects Jamaica, Haiti and Puerto Rico. There is another transform margin that runs through Trinidad. 2. There is a convergent’ boundary on the east of the Caribbean Plate. North and South America Plates are moving west, beneath the Caribbean Plate. ~ This gave rise to the volcanic chain of islands. Barbados is not volcanic as it was pushed up by the Earth movements. Another convergent margin is along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America (Cocos Plate is subducted under the Caribbean Plate).29 1 9 - @) 3. A short stretch of divergent plate margin occurs to the west of Jamaica called the Cayman Islands Ridge. The "The Caribbean Plate is quite active. The deep ocean trenches off Cayman, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola indicate margins with potential for earthquakes (7.5 or higher on the Richter Scale). This can generate tsunamis. = convergent and transform margins (south of the Caribbean d along the plate margin. Eruptions from one volcano can s on other islands. Eg. May 7, 1902, Mt Soufriere (St. Vincent) . Mt Pelee (Martinique). Caribbean Plate is more active than the eastern edge. Asa stronger. Strong earthquakes in Central America may Antilles. There are a greater number of volcanoes that are10 Earthquakes A vibration that occurs in the crust due to the release of energy by rocks. The earthquake zone extends from Grenada to St. Kitts and up to Jamaica and west Trinidad. Due to plate movements, rocks bend to accommodate the stresses and pressure but when the pressure becomes too great, the rocks snap/rhove. The energy released (seismic waves) can displace rocks. Epicenter Seismic waves facthquakes when the breek 1. “ia fault) between two blocks of ruck suddenly moves, the movernent calises vibrations (seismic 7 Foult line | | j waves) to race rapidly outward In ell directions from the focus, The point at ground level directly ebove ine tocus 1s called the epicenter, Focus: Fault line undergroune Earthquakes occur around the periphery of the Caribbean Plate (Caribbean Plate moves approximately 1-2 cm a year, while N. American Plate moves approximately 3-4 cm a year) ) Deep focus (more than 200km below)- commonly found along subduction es (E Caribbean). low focus (less than 70km below)- occur along transform margins marine trenches. Potentially more dangerous and occurs it the Greater Antilles. le (strength/energy released) on the Richter scale. le (eg. 6.0 is 10 times greater than 5.0 and 100Effects of Earthquakes: Surface faulting Ground shaking ‘ Ground failure/ liquefaction Landslides /: rockfalls Broken gas, water, sewage lines Tsunamis ; Fires Spread of diseases Collapsed dams which leads flooding Impacts of Earthquakes can be reduced by: Land use zoning Building design ‘ Stabilization of steep slopes Improvement in warning and prediction. _ TSUNAMIS AND THE CARIBBEAN PRegional geclogists do not believe thai there is a high risk of pnami A submarine earthquake af 2+ Io es a very powerful Sause a tsunarni one day but currentiy it is too far beneath the suriace is, a risk in the coming centuries of a major tsunami if the volcano 12 Palma, Canary Islands. It would take approximately 8 hours te ibbean. ean has a warning system with pressure recorders and bouys to