2. Plate Tectonics of the Lesser Antilles By Justin Howard http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/2minsurface/1350/45N090W.jpg

3. Lesser Antilles Location Location The chain of islands wrapped around the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic ocean.The chain of islands wrapped around the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic ocean. Islands Islands The US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda, Saint Vincent, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago, The Netherlands Antilles, the island off the coast of Venezuela, and Aruba.The US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda, Saint Vincent, Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad, Tobago, The Netherlands Antilles, the island off the coast of Venezuela, and Aruba. http://www.sitesatlas.com/Maps/Maps/309.htm

4. Tectonic Plates of Earth Tectonic PlateTectonic Plate A piece of the Earth’s lithosphere, or crust. http://www.sitesatlas.com/Maps/Maps/309.htm

5. Plate Tectonics Plate Tectonics The theory developed to explain the phenomena of continental drift. The theory developed to explain the phenomena of continental drift. The outermost part of the Earth’s interior is made up of two layers. The outermost part of the Earth’s interior is made up of two layers. The Asthenosphere The Asthenosphere The region located beneath the lithosphere between 100 and 700 Km below the surface. The region located beneath the lithosphere between 100 and 700 Km below the surface. The Lithosphere The Lithosphere The outermost solid shell of Earth between the uppermost layer of mantle and the crust. The outermost solid shell of Earth between the uppermost layer of mantle and the crust. Plate Boundaries Plate Boundaries Transform Boundaries Transform Boundaries The grinding of two plates along transform faults, where the rock fracture is caused by lateral movement of two surfaces. The grinding of two plates along transform faults, where the rock fracture is caused by lateral movement of two surfaces. Divergent Boundaries Divergent Boundaries The sliding of plates past each other. The sliding of plates past each other. Convergent Boundaries Convergent Boundaries The sliding of two plates toward each other and one is forced under the other. The sliding of two plates toward each other and one is forced under the other.

6. Plate Boundaries http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Image:Tectonic_plate_boundaries.png

7. Plate Tectonics of the Lesser Antilles  Consists of Convergent boundaries where the Atlantic and Caribbean plates meet.  The rate of subduction is on average 1 inch per year.  Seventeen volcanoes have been active in the last 10,000 years, the Holocene, in the West Indies.  Active Volcanoes include:  Kick-Em-Jenny  Soufriere Hills http://www.mount-pelee.com/arcvolc.htm#

8. The chain of volcanoes present at the mid-oceanic ridge is a result of the subducted Cocos Plate beneath the west edge of the Caribbean Plate. The chain of volcanoes present at the mid-oceanic ridge is a result of the subducted Cocos Plate beneath the west edge of the Caribbean Plate. http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_america/west_indies.html

9. A Cross-Sectional View of the Lesser Antilles’ Convergent Boundary http://www.mount-pelee.com/arcvolc.htm#

10. Results of Tectonic Activity in the British Virgin Islands: Virgin Gorda Justin Howard

11. 70 million years ago, during the Tertiary, magma accumulated on the lava layers of the Caribbean seabed forming huge sections of granite. Justin Howard

12. It wasn’t until 15-25 million years ago that the granite created under water was exposed by faulting and uplifting. That granite, pictured here, has since been weathered (largely by acid rain). This explains the rough, flaking surface. Justin Howard

13. Bibliography Howard, Justin. Personal Photos, Virgin Gorda, BVI. 2004. Howard, Justin. Personal Photos, Virgin Gorda, BVI. 2004. Press, Frank et al. Understanding the Earth. Freeman Press, New York, NY. 2004. Press, Frank et al. Understanding the Earth. Freeman Press, New York, NY. 2004. http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/2minsurface/1350/45N090W.jpg http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/2minsurface/1350/45N090W.jpg http://www.mount-pelee.com/arcvolc.htm# http://www.mount-pelee.com/arcvolc.htm# http://www.sitesatlas.com/Maps/Maps/309.htm http://www.sitesatlas.com/Maps/Maps/309.htm http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Image:Tectonic_plate_boundaries.png http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Image:Tectonic_plate_boundaries.png http://www.thebathsbvi.com/map.htm http://www.thebathsbvi.com/map.htm http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_america/west_indies.html http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_america/west_indies.html