Climate in the Caribbean

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

Martinique

St Kitts

St Vincent

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

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

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

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.