WEEK FIVE- VOLCANIC ACTIVITY IN NEAR BY COUNTRY

This week in our geology class, we learned and are discussing how volcanic activity effects our country. My chosen country of Cuba has been hard to find if it has a volcano or not. I have run into confusion with many sites posting that Sierra Maestra is the tallest point when I search for volcanoes but it hasn't been clear if that if it is a volcano or mountain, so, I will be sharing information on a near by country of Costa rica and how volcanoes play a hazard to that country.Costa Rica has many volcanoes. Costa Rica's tallest volcano is Volcano Irazu however, Volcano Poas remains one of  the most active although the last eruption was back a century ago. Still today, people can see gesyers exploding into the air. Due to Costa Rica having several volcanoes and experiencing volcanic eruption, this has led to Costa Rica to heavily prepare and alert it's citizens through: sending out alerts through cell phone and televisions. They have also created jobs for scientists to monitor the countries volcanic activity. 


citations: https://www.arenal.net/volcanoes-costa-rica

Week 3-11:20pm

Earthquakes

This week in geology class we had to research how our country has been effected by earthquakes,how it happens, and information on how to be prepared.In order for us to talk about earthquake history it's important to share how earthquakes form. As stated in our textbook, Earthquakes occur along the plate where the earths outer layer crust known as the fault. A fault is a semi-planar fracture system where rocks have been moved to the other side (Keller 55). 

The earth's movement of tectonic plates results in the formation and destruction of ocean basins and uplifts mountains, and the process is active along the boundaries of the phosphoric plates where faulting occurs (Keller 54). As stated,"a fault rupture occurs such as rocks breaking apart suddenly and violently. It releases a stored elastic strain energy in the form of seismic waves which produces a strong motion that passes through the ground under our feet that we perceive as a earthquake which cracks the ground and damages buildings and others structures." (Keller 59). As stated by the U.S. Geological Survey,  "seismicity refers to the geographic and historical distribution of earthquakes."  Cuba is located in an area with several active fault systems which produce on average about 2000 seismic events each year.Although Cuba has many seismic events most go unnoticed.Although most are small events, Cuba has experienced destructive and life-threatening earthquakes that have had a magnitude of 7.0 or above. Seismic activity in Cuba emanates from the Oriente fault zone, located in the Bartlett-Cayman fault system which runs along the south-eastern coast of Cuba and marks the tectonic boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate.In Cuba, there are over 10 active faults and much Data that predicts in the near future that Cuba will experience a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.For the people of Cuba, as they have dealt with many earthquakes before they have learned the best way to face a challenge is to be prepared and within the last decade have intensified Earthquake education, population awareness through radio, and improved infrastructure to withstand such magnitudes. 

 
work cited:
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/glossary/?term=seismicity)
KELLER, EDWARD A.. DEVECCHIO, DUANE E. NATURAL HAZARDS: earths processes as hazards, disasters, and catastrophes (fourth edition). ROUTLEDGE, 2016
ww.radiorebelde.cu/english/news/cuba-intensifies-people-s-education-on-earthquakes-20100325/

https://earthquaketrack.com/p/cuba/recent

Week 2 Blog- Earth Catastrophes: PLATES

In Geology class, This week we explored in depth of Plates and how they effect our environment. Plate tectonics are responsible for disasters like earthquakes and volcanoes. Tectonics are known for geological processes/natural hazards that cause havoc for the outer part of the earth, known as the Lithosphere. The lithospheric plates/tectonic plates move due to the bottom layer (Asthenosphere) being extremely hot and it's liquid consistency allows for the plates to move.
In Cuba, The Mao below shows how Cuba resides in the North American Plate and is close to the Caribbean Plate.

Cuba is lucky enough to not have any volcanoes however, Earthquake activity is the potential harm if you live in Cuba. As stated in our class week 2 summary there is a correlation between plate boundaries and earthquakes /volcanoes. From looking at the NOAA Map, you can infer that Cuba is close but far enough to a boundary that it doesn't have volcanoes only Earthquakes and that is what has saved Cuba from witnessing a volcanic eruption natural disaster. 



Citations: https://www.britannica.com/science/asthenosphere 

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/lithosphere?s=t