St Lucia coastline being changed by Erosion EarthCache
St Lucia coastline being changed by Erosion
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The island of Saint Lucia is almost entirely of volcanic origin with exception of a small area of coral reef formations in the north. The volcanic events which formed the island had several centers of activity and took place over a number of geological time periods. In general, parts of the island north of the Roseau Valley are older exhibiting volcanic features which are quite eroded making identification of the centers of volcanic activity impossible. To the south, on the other hand, the younger volcanic landforms are well preserved and very evident.
Geologists believe Saint Lucia was formed during four principal periods of volcanic activity.
19 to 9 million years ago a series of small volcanoes form an island of what is now from Castries to the northern tip.6 to 5 million years ago Volcanic activity forms a separate land mass that is now the southern part of the island.2 to 1 million years ago intense volcanic activity centered in the south central section around Mount Gimie connects the northern and southern sections and builds up the island.Less than 1 million years ago another series of volcanoes become active around Soufriere Bay forming the present day Sulphur Springs and the Pitons.
You can observe the changes to the coastline here as you enter into the harbour by water craft or a boat
This cache is referring to the coastline on your right which has been effected by erosion .
Erosion over time has changed the look of the coastline
What is Erosion
Once the rock has been weakened and broken up by weathering it is ready for erosion. Erosion happens when rocks and sediments are picked up and moved to another place by ice, water, wind or gravity. Mechanical weathering physically breaks up rock.
Coastal Erosion
Is the wearing away of land and the removal of beach or dune sediments by wave action, tidal currents, wave currents, drainage or high winds
Wave action
Destructive waves are the opposite of constructive waves, this is when more sediment is removed than is deposited onto the beach. Wave action describes the 'behaviour' of the waves. Waves can either be constructive or descrutive
Tidal currents
The strongest tidal currents occur at or around the peak of high and low tides. When the tide is rising and the flow of the current is directed towards the shore, the tidal current is called the flood current, and when the tide is receding and the current is directed back out to sea, it is called the ebb current.
Wave currents
In fluid dynamics, wave–current interaction is the interaction between surface gravity waves and a mean flow. The interaction implies an exchange of energy, so after the start of the interaction both the waves and the mean flow are affected.
Major storms
Storms can dramatically change how a coast looks. Such storms represent a break in the normal processes that occur along coasts. Significant erosion, transport, and deposition of sediment occur during storms.
Q1
Has the mainland been changed by erosion, please describe what you see
Q2
Has any part of the mainland been eroded away so that an island is being formed
Q3
What type of erosion has occured here
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