THE IMPACT OF GEOGRAPHICAL PHENOMENA

(a) Plate tectonics:

Definition

Location and movement of the Caribbean plate and its interaction with other

plates.

Earthquakes and volcanoes: threat of tsunamis, social displacement.

Definition of plate tectonics:

Basic definition of plate tectonics;

Plate tectonics is an explanation of how plates move in relation to each other, thereby, creating

certain tectonic activities at the margin.

Geographical definition of plate tectonics;

Plate tectonics refers to the theory that the Earth’s surface (lithosphere), which holds landmass

especially and oceans, is moving relatively over a dense semi-liquid area below the surface

(asthenosphere). Motion is influenced by friction between the asthenosphere and lithosphere,

causing the rigid surface to fracture and move as individual plates.

Plate movements:

Transform (conservative) plate margins

These are plates that slide past each other. They generate earthquakes.

e.g.

Trinidad (September 29th, 2006 - 5.5 magnitude.

Haiti (January 12th, 2010) - 7.0 magnitude.

Divergent (constructive) plate margins;

It is a linear feature which moves away from each other. These movements usually generate volcanoes.

e.g.;

•Grenada- Kick ‘em Jenny

•Martinique- Mt. Pele

•Montserrat- Soufriere

•St. Lucia – Pitons

Convergent(destructive) plate margin;

This is occurs when plates collides and one is forced downwards, hence pushing upward the other plate.as a result there are volcanoes, earthquakes and mountains being formed in these areas.

e.g; volcanoes (repeated)

•Grenada- Kick ‘em Jenny

•Martinique- Mt. Pele

•Monsterrat- Soufriére.

e.g: mountains

•Trinidad- northern range

•Jamaica- Blue Mountains

•Grenada- Saint Catherine

CARIBBEAN PLATE

The Caribbean Plate is centered amidst the Cocos, Panama, North Andes, South American, and

North American Plates.

The Caribbean Plate lies in a complex area with two major plates and two minor plates

bordering it. The plate includes oceanic and continental crust. The Caribbean Sea covers most

of the plate with Central America and volcanic islands covering the rest. The edges of the plate

have intense seismic activity, frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

DISASTERS CAUSED BY PLATE TECTONICS

RELATIVE TERMS  

firstly, the term natural hazards can be defined as events that occur on the earth’s surface and

cause a threat to human lives and property. 

Natural disaster- events that occur on the earth’s crust and affects human lives and property

causing a detrimental effect.

Earthquakes are sudden tremors in the earth cause by plate movements, hey are

sudden, striking and comes with little movements.

The violent seismic waves destroy buildings an kill and injure people buried under the rubble.

They may trigger landslides and damage dams. However, they are most common along the

northern and western fringes of the Caribbean society.

e.g.

Jamaica (1907)

The capital city, Kingston was flatten, secondary impact of fires caused further damage.

Haiti (2010)

The impact of the massive earthquake has been one of the most devastating. It occurred on the

12th of January with a magnitude of 7.0. Today, Haiti still has not recovered leaving hundreds in

abject poverty, others homeless and much more facing economic problems.

TSUNAMIS

•A tsunami is a large sea wave, traveling at great speed, triggered by oceanic earthquakes and

volcanoes.

Tsunamis are not familiar to the Caribbean; however there have been minor impacts on recent

history. These include;

•Jamaica (1907)

•Puerto Rico (1918)

•Montserrat (1997)

•Dominican Republic (1946)

VOLCANOES

Volcanoes are perhaps the most dramatic extreme natural event. Hot lava spewing out of

the vent, Ash and gases exploding into the air. The impact can be devastating,

obliterating large areas, with people and buildings buried.

There are two types of volcano: composite, cinder and shield.