Tectonics and Volcanoes of the West Indies
Tectonics and Volcanoes of the West Indies
The volcanoes of the West Indies result from the subduction
of oceanic lithosphere, created at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, beneath the east
edge of the Caribbean Plate. The volcanoes of Central America are the
result of subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the west edge of the
Caribbean Plate. Arrows show the direction of plate motion. Black "teeth"
are on the overriding plate at subduction zones. Map simplified from
Montgomery and others (1994).
Seventeen volcanoes have been active in the West Indies in the Holocene (the
last 10,000 years). Most of these volcanoes are subearial and form parts of
islands. One submarine volcano,
Kick-'em-Jenny, is also
active. Most of the volcanoes are stratovolcanoes. Lava
domes are a
commonly produced by eruptions and lava flows are rare (only 4 from 123
historic eruptions). This regions has had only 34 historic eruptions. The
1902-1905 eruption of Mt.
Pelee is one of the
world's
most deadly eruptions. The 1902
eruption at Soufriere, St.
Vincent
also caused a large number of fatalities. The ongoing eruption at Soufriere
Hills is
the most recent activity in the region. Volcano locations from Simkin and
Siebert (1994).
Space Shuttle photo 052-0074-0007 looking northwest across the volcanic arc
of the Lesser Antilles. Barbados is in the foreground. The distance from
Guadeloupe to Grenada is about 200 km. Photo taken on October 23, 1992.
The volcanoes are monitored
by Observatoire
Volcanologique de la Soufriere, Observatoire Volcanologique de la Montagne
Pele and the Seismic Research Unit, University of the West Indies.
Space Shuttle photo 068-0231-0013 looking west across the central part of
the volcanic arc of the Lesser Antilles. Photo taken on October 4, 1994.
Source of Information:
Montgomery, H., Pessagno, Jr., E.A., and Pindell, J.L., 1994, A 195 Ma
terrane in a 165 Ma sea: Pacific origin of the Caribbean Plate: GSA Today,
v. 4, p. 1, 3-6.
Robool, M.J., and Smith, A.L., 1989, Volcanic and associated hazards in the
Lesser Antilles, in Latter, J.H., ed., Volcanic Hazards - Assessment and
Monitoring: Berlin, Springer-Verlag, p. 36-75.
Robson, G.R., Tomblin, J., 1966, West Indies. Catalogue of the active
volcanoes of the world, International Association of Volcanology 20, Rome,
Italy, 56 p.
Shepherd, J.B., 1989, Eruptions, eruption precursors and related phenomena
in the Lesser Antilles, in Latter, J.H., ed., Volcanic Hazards - Assessment
and Monitoring: Berlin, Springer-Verlag, p. 292-311.
Simkin, T., and Siebert, L., 1994, Volcanoes of the World: Geoscience
Press, Tucson, Arizona, 349 p.
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