Geology Blog- The Bahamas

 Coastal Erosion Coastal Erosion in The Bahamas: Causes, Effects, and Solutions Coastal erosion is a big problem for The Bahamas, a place famous for its beautiful beaches and clear waters. But behind this beauty, there's a serious threat to the islands. In this blog, we'll talk about why coastal erosion happens, what it does, and how we can fix it. Causes:   Coastal erosion in The Bahamas happens because of things both from nature and people. Natural stuff like higher sea levels, big storms, and waves slowly break down the sandy shores. People also make it worse by building on the coast, taking sand, and not taking good care of the coast. Effects:   Coastal erosion has big effects on the environment and people in The Bahamas. When beaches disappear, it hurts tourism, which is a big part of the economy. Furthermore, coastal erosion threatens infrastructure, homes, and ecosystems, leading to habitat loss, increased flooding, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources. ...

  Extreme Weather in the Bahamas: The Bahamas is generally a hotspot of extreme weather solely because of its location.  The location of the Bahamas archipelago in the Atlantic hurricane belt means that the islands are subject to regular hydro-meteorological disasters including hurricanes, storms and cyclones which occur most frequently in September, October, August and November. Hurricanes are the most prevalent and most disastrous forms of extreme weather that occurs in the Bahamas.  On average, they happen about 7 times a year. However, hurricanes often do not make landfall in the Bahamas, but turn away beforehand. The remnants then cause gusts of wind and rain on land. The most affected regions are West Grand Bahama, North Abaco, and Bimini.  The most severe hurricane to make landfall in the Bahamas in the past 12 months was "Franklin" It reached a wind speed of up to 93 km/h on August 24, 2023, at 8:00 am local time near Abraham’s Bay and was 111 kilometers in ...

  Mass Wasting Hazards in The Bahamas The Bahamas is a country with a very low peak elevation. Mount Alvrenina is the country's highest point with an elevation of only 206 feet. With the country of the Bahamas being relativity flat, Landslides are very rare. The closest natural hazard to landslides that have occurred in the Bahamas is sinkholes. There are deep sinkholes throughout the Bahamas that are filled with water that is called "Blue Holes". According to the Bahamas National Trust, d uring the Ice Age, the ice caps spread over the world causing the sea water levels to slowly fall. Underground caves formed deep in the ground as a result. At the end of the ice age ice melted and sea level rose, filling the caves with water and forming what we know today as blue holes. Some neighboring countries in the B ahamas that experience Landslides are St. Vincent, St. Lucia, and Dominica of the Windward Islands. According to a website from the University of The West Indies, the ...

 Volcanoes in The Bahamas:      Although the Bahamas is known for its white sandy beaches and warm water, The Bahamas originated from volcanoes in the country and in the Caribbean islands that came out of the ocean to create the islands. The original islands formed about 150 million years ago. There are various volcanos spread throughout the Caribbean.  Some of the main volcanos within the area are La Soufrière, Soufrière Hills, Mount Pelée, and Mount Scenery. La Soufrière is the most recent volcano that had activity. According to Bahamas.gov On  the 9th  of April 2021, subsequent moderate eruptions increased the level of ash and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere creating hazardous conditions within the Caribbean.  Westerly winds in the upper levels have taken the majority of the volcanic ash eastward across the Atlantic to as far as the Indian Ocean, reducing its concentration in the immediate area. The Bahamas is located north...

Earthquakes:  Since the Bahamas is located just north of the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate, there are little earthquakes throughout the country. Throughout the last 44 years, there have only been 15 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2 to 4.3. An earthquake on October 28, 2023, was the largest in decades with a 4.3 magnitude. Most of the earthquakes are around the magnitude of 3. The most recent earthquake in The Bahamas was only 12 days ago... An earthquake occurred on Jan. 29, 2024, with a magnitude of 3.5. The earthquake was recorded at a depth of 5 Km underground, which is a relatively shallow earthquake. It was not reported that anyone was able to feel the earthquake. However there are not many earthquakes in the area, and there are still necessary preparations that can be in place. One of these preparations that can be implemented is an upgraded warning system to help inform locals about possible hazards that may be on the horizon. Additionally, The Bahamas could ...

Plate Tectonic and Boundaries in The Bahamas: The Bahamas is located in one of the most beautiful regions in the entire world, the Caribbean.  A warm tropical paradise that is a tourist hotspot for many Americans and others around the world. Many people don't know that it is located very close to two separate tectonic plates, the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate.  The Bahamas are at the bottom of the North American Plate, right above the Caribbean Plate. The location of the country on top of these tectonic plates has a minor impact on its natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis. According to VolcanoDiscovery.com, there have been only 15 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2 and above. This leaves The Bahamas with only a 2% chance each year of having earthquakes with the potential to cause damage to the country. Because the Bahamas is so close to the convergence of the Caribbean Plate and the North American Plate, There is a higher risk for tsunamis. The are a ...