Geography of Dominica: Difference between revisions
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imported>Katya0133 →Climate: copy edit |
imported>LaundryPizza03 →Geology: Compress somewhat in favor of expanding the stub |
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| access-date = February 28, 2013}}</ref> | | access-date = February 28, 2013}}</ref> | ||
|source 2 = BBC Weather<ref name="weather1">{{cite web | |source 2 = BBC Weather<ref name="weather1">{{cite web | ||
| url = | | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/3575635 | ||
| title = Average Conditions Roseau, Dominica | | title = Average Conditions Roseau, Dominica | ||
| access-date = February 28, 2013 | | access-date = February 28, 2013 | ||
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Geologically, Dominica is part of the rugged [[Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc|Lesser Antilles volcanic]] arc.<ref name=":0" /> The country's central spine, a northwest–southeast axis of steep volcanic slopes and deep gorges, generally varies in elevation from {{convert|300|to|1400|m|0}} above sea level.<ref name=":0" /> Several east-west trending mountain spurs extend to the narrow coastal plain, which is studded with sea cliffs and has level stretches no wider than {{convert|2000|m|0}}.<ref name=":0" /> The highest peak is Morne Diablotins, at {{convert|1447|m|0}}; Morne Trois Pitons, with an elevation of {{convert|1423|m|0}}, lies farther south and is the site of the national park.<ref name=":0" /> | Geologically, Dominica is part of the rugged [[Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc|Lesser Antilles volcanic]] arc.<ref name=":0" /> The country's central spine, a northwest–southeast axis of steep volcanic slopes and deep gorges, generally varies in elevation from {{convert|300|to|1400|m|0}} above sea level.<ref name=":0" /> Several east-west trending mountain spurs extend to the narrow coastal plain, which is studded with sea cliffs and has level stretches no wider than {{convert|2000|m|0}}.<ref name=":0" /> The highest peak is Morne Diablotins, at {{convert|1447|m|0}}; Morne Trois Pitons, with an elevation of {{convert|1423|m|0}}, lies farther south and is the site of the national park.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
The interior features rugged [[mountain]]s of [[volcano|volcanic]] origin. Volcanism is still quite evident on the island, the most popular examples being Dominica's [[Boiling Lake]] | The interior features rugged [[mountain]]s of [[volcano|volcanic]] origin. Volcanism is still quite evident on the island, the most popular examples being Dominica's [[Boiling Lake]], the second largest of its kind and which rests in a [[dormant volcano|dormant]] volcanic caldera that last erupted in 1880.<ref name="bg090118"/> The area that exploded on 4 January 1880 was reported to be "fully nine square miles".<ref>''The Twillingate Sun'', February 10, 1881.</ref> | ||
[[File:Volcanic rock (Dominica).jpg|thumb|left|300px|Volcanic rock at Pagua Bay, Dominica]] | [[File:Volcanic rock (Dominica).jpg|thumb|left|300px|Volcanic rock at Pagua Bay, Dominica]] | ||
Dominica's rugged surface is marked by its volcanic past. Rock formations are mainly volcanic andesite and rhyolite, with fallen boulders and sharp-edged protrusions peppering slope bases.<ref name=":0" /> The light- to dark-hued clay and sandy soils, derived from the rocks and decomposed vegetation, are generally fertile and porous.<ref name=":0" /> Only a few interior valleys and coastal strips are flat enough for soil accumulations of consequence, however.<ref name=":0" /> Although scores of mostly mild seismic shocks were recorded in 1986, volcanic eruptions ceased thousands of years ago.<ref name=":0" /> Sulfuric springs and steam vents, largely concentrated in the central and southern parts of the island, remain active, however | Dominica's rugged surface is marked by its volcanic past. Rock formations are mainly volcanic andesite and rhyolite, with fallen boulders and sharp-edged protrusions peppering slope bases.<ref name=":0" /> The light- to dark-hued clay and sandy soils, derived from the rocks and decomposed vegetation, are generally fertile and porous.<ref name=":0" /> Only a few interior valleys and coastal strips are flat enough for soil accumulations of consequence, however.<ref name=":0" /> Although scores of mostly mild seismic shocks were recorded in 1986, volcanic eruptions ceased thousands of years ago.<ref name=":0" /> Sulfuric springs and steam vents, largely concentrated in the central and southern parts of the island, remain active, however.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
Dominica is water-rich with swift-flowing highland streams, which cascade into deep gorges and form natural pools and crater lakes.<ref name=":0" /> The streams are not navigable, but many are sources of hydroelectric power.<ref name=":0" /> [[Trafalgar Falls]], located near the national park, is one of the most spectacular sites on the island.<ref name=":0" /> The falls consists of twin waterfalls known as the mother and father or the Mama and the Papa.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trafalgar Falls - Ministry of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives |url=https://tourism.gov.dm/news-and-media/brochures/81-trafalgar-falls |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=tourism.gov.dm |archive-date=2022-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115084914/https://tourism.gov.dm/news-and-media/brochures/81-trafalgar-falls |url-status=dead }}</ref | Dominica is water-rich with swift-flowing highland streams, which cascade into deep gorges and form natural pools and crater lakes.<ref name=":0" /> The streams are not navigable, but many are sources of hydroelectric power.<ref name=":0" /> [[Trafalgar Falls]], located near the national park, is one of the most spectacular sites on the island.<ref name=":0" /> The falls consists of twin waterfalls known as the mother and father or the Mama and the Papa.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Trafalgar Falls - Ministry of Tourism, International Transport and Maritime Initiatives |url=https://tourism.gov.dm/news-and-media/brochures/81-trafalgar-falls |access-date=2022-11-15 |website=tourism.gov.dm |archive-date=2022-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115084914/https://tourism.gov.dm/news-and-media/brochures/81-trafalgar-falls |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
== Fauna == | == Fauna == | ||
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The [[Caribbean Sea]] offshore of the island of Dominica is home to many [[cetaceans]]. Most notably a small group of [[sperm whale]]s live in this area year round. These are shy animals, but there is a good chance of seeing them if you go out on a calm day. Other cetaceans commonly seen in the area include [[pilot whale]], [[Fraser's dolphin]], [[pantropical spotted dolphin]] and [[bottlenose dolphin]]. Less commonly seen animals include [[Cuvier's beaked whale]], [[false killer whale]], [[pygmy sperm whale]], [[dwarf sperm whale]], [[Risso's dolphin]], [[common dolphin]], [[humpback whale]] and [[Bryde's whale]]. This makes Dominica a destination for tourists interested in [[whale-watching]]. | The [[Caribbean Sea]] offshore of the island of Dominica is home to many [[cetaceans]]. Most notably a small group of [[sperm whale]]s live in this area year round. These are shy animals, but there is a good chance of seeing them if you go out on a calm day. Other cetaceans commonly seen in the area include [[pilot whale]], [[Fraser's dolphin]], [[pantropical spotted dolphin]] and [[bottlenose dolphin]]. Less commonly seen animals include [[Cuvier's beaked whale]], [[false killer whale]], [[pygmy sperm whale]], [[dwarf sperm whale]], [[Risso's dolphin]], [[common dolphin]], [[humpback whale]] and [[Bryde's whale]]. This makes Dominica a destination for tourists interested in [[whale-watching]]. | ||
== Forests == | |||
===REDD+ reference levels and monitoring=== | |||
Under the [[UNFCCC]] [[REDD+]] framework, Dominica has submitted national [[forest reference level]] benchmarks. On the UNFCCC REDD+ Web Platform, the country’s 2022 submission is listed as having an assessed reference level of −446,983 [[carbon dioxide equivalent|t CO2 eq]] per year, while a second submission made in 2024 is listed as under technical assessment. For both submission packages, the other [[Warsaw Framework on REDD-plus|Warsaw Framework]] elements—a national strategy, [[Cancún safeguards|safeguards]], and a [[national forest monitoring system]]—are listed as “not reported”.<ref name="UNFCCC_REDD_DMA">{{cite web |title=Dominica (DMA) — Submissions provided by Country |website=REDD+ Web Platform |publisher=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) |url=https://redd.unfccc.int/submissions/by-country/country_detail/dma.html}}</ref> | |||
The first assessed submission, technically assessed in 2024, covered the REDD+ activities “conservation of forest carbon stocks”, “[[sustainable forest management|sustainable management of forests]]” and “enhancement of forest carbon stocks” at national scale.<ref name="UNFCCC_TAR_DMA_2022">{{cite report |title=Report on the technical assessment of the proposed forest reference level of Dominica submitted in 2022 |publisher=United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) |date=2 February 2024 |id=FCCC/TAR/2022/DMA |url=https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/tar2022_DMA.pdf}}</ref> Using a historical reference period of 2001–2017, the assessed [[forest reference level]] for 2018–2025 was defined as the annual average of expected net removals from post-disturbance forest regrowth on forest land remaining forest land, together with removals from land converted to forest land. The technical assessment reported that the benchmark was revised during the assessment process from −648,028 to −446,983 t CO2 eq per year, and that this reflected recalculations associated with forest damage from [[Hurricane Maria]] in 2017 and the expected pattern of forest recovery thereafter.<ref name="UNFCCC_TAR_DMA_2022" /> | |||
The technical assessment states that the reference level included [[biomass|above-ground biomass]], [[biomass|below-ground biomass]], dead organic matter and [[soil organic carbon]], and reported [[carbon dioxide|CO2]], [[methane]] (CH<sub>4</sub>) and [[nitrous oxide]] (N<sub>2</sub>O). However, because biomass burning was not observed or estimated during the historical reference period, only CO2 was effectively quantified in the benchmark.<ref name="UNFCCC_TAR_DMA_2022" /> | |||
== Statistics == | == Statistics == | ||