Plate Tectonics in Haiti

Haiti is situated to the north of the Caribbean Plate, on a transform (slip/conservative) plate boundary with the North American Plate.

The North American Plate is slowly moving West creating friction with the Caribbean Plate, the shear stress pressure built between the plates every time it moves is released in earthquakes. The Caribbean Plate is also surrounded by Cocos Plate, Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. The Caribbean plate is being pushed Eastward while the South American Plate is being pushed beneath the Caribbean plate causing what is called subduction. Intense heat and pressure gradually force water containing magma up through the gaps of the subduction zone to rise into the Earths mantle fueling the many active volcanoes in the region. All of the pushing and pulling of the plates formed the distinctive arc shape of the Caribbean Islands in addition to forming a very intricate system of faults between the two plates in Northern South American. There are many hazards associated with the movement and seismicity on the Caribbean plate from seismic strain from movement of the surrounding plate boundaries resulting in massive spontaneous earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes.

Along the road near Beloc north of Jacmel. All road outcrops examined are incomplete, sheared, folded and faulted, which is particularly evident in these folds showing a prominent 10-15cm thick spherule layer