Climate in the Caribbean

1. Climate in the Caribbean

2. Reminder….. • Climate: The average precipitation over a long period of time • Weather: the day to day precipitation

3. Regions in the Caribbean • There are 3 major regions in the Caribbean Islands • The Bahamas • Greater Antilles • Lesser Antilles

4. Environment • The physical environment of the islands is ideal for tourism, offering both land and sea • The climate from December to April are usually sunny, dry and warm. • May to November it is more hot, humid and wet. • They don’t have summer and winter like us but have more dry and wet seasons

5. Trade Winds • Constant winds that blow from the east across the Atlantic, having a pleasant cooling effect. • Most noticeable during the dry season.

6. Windward • The side of a land mass that faces into a direct wind • These coasts tend to be rocky, with stronger ocean currents rolling in.

7. Leeward • The side of a land mass protected from wind • Most resorts tend to be located on these protected sides away from the wind.

9. Storms • Caribbean can experience violent storms in early fall. • Hurricane-force winds can cause major destruction. • Numbers of these storms are increasing and these can include hurricanes.

10. How does a hurricane form? • Typically a weak low pressure system over warm tropical waters gets a collection of thunderstorms around its center. The storms help to intensify the central low and if wind conditions in the atmosphere are right the system can grow into a hurricane

13. Hurricane Intensities Category 1 • Winds between 119 and 154 km/h • Traffic signs twisted • Garden shrubs and shingled roofs damaged

14. Category 2 • Winds between 155 and 178 km/h • Street signs damaged • Buildings receive roof and window damage • Low-flying areas flooded • Trailers destroyed.

15. Category 3 • Winds between 179 and 210 km/h • Small buildings severely damaged • Flooding results from heavy rains and storm surges • Small sailing vessels damaged

16. Category 4 • Winds between 211 and 250km/h • Trees severely damaged • Buildings lose roods and windows • Significant damage to buildings with weak structures eg. Mobile homes

17. Category 5 • Winds greater than 251km/h • Small buildings destroyed • Emergency plans for large evacuation of people within 80 km of storm path

18. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG1wAS97KnY

19. Origins- Volcanoes • Some Caribbean Islands are tops of Volcanoes -Martinique -St Kitts -St Vincent • These islands owe their start to Volcanic activity….movement of plate tectonics caused volcanic eruptions • Not considered a major threat now

20. Martinique

21. St Kitts

22. St Vincent

23. Martinique 1902 • Most tragic eruptions happened St-Pierre, Martinique • Total population: 28 600, only 2 people survived • 800C explosive gas burned and chocked the population as it sped down from the peak faster than an express train

25. Scenic and Benefits • Mountains and deep valleys of the volcanic islands add to their beauty • Slopes often covered with crops or rainforests because of rich volcanic soils

26. Limestone Islands • Islands such as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao formed by accumulation of coral which transforms into limestone • They are low lying islands and tend to be drier with less vegetation cover than volcanic ones

28. Scarcity of water can create problems for both inhabitants and resort owners. • Water-catchment devices are sometimes used to funnel rainwater from roofs into storage tanks.