Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Where is Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States and in an archipelago among the Greater Antilles. The climate is subtropical to tropical rainforest (hot and humid). The topography of the main island is divided into three major regions: the mountainous region, which includes the Cordillera Central, Sierra de Luquillo, Sierra de Cayey and Sierra Bermeja, the coastal plains and the northern karst region. The Cordillera Central extends through the entire island, dividing it into the northern and southern region. The majority of this field course is spent in Western Puerto Rico, including Arecibo, Rincon, Cabo Rojo, and Ponce. The island is part of an oceanic plate (Caribbean Plate) that is just south of the North American Plate.

Why Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico has a complex geologic history. It is composed of Jurassic to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks, which are overlain by younger Oligocene to more recent carbonates and other sedimentary rocks. As Puerto Rico lies at the boundary between two tectonic plates, it is constantly being deformed by tectonic stresses, which frequently cause dangerous geologic hazards (i.e., earthquakes, tsunamis). Puerto Rico can also find itself in the crosshair of major tropical storms that rearrange shorelines, demolish human infrastructure, and significantly modify forests and agriculture.

What Kind of Geology Will I See in Puerto Rico?

Salt Flats of Cabo Rojo

Beach Processes

Karst Environments

Pillow Lavas

Uplifted Sedimentary Beds

Folding and Faulting

Coral Reef Mapping and Monitoring

What Geology Should I Know BEFORE Going to Puerto Rico?

Distinguish between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
Describe rock properties
Know basics of brunton compass
Understand processes and types of plate tectonic boundaries
Describe dykes and sills
Identify different kinds of folds and faults

Describe pillow lavas
Understand earthquake processes (waves), damage, and tsunamis
Describe cave formation and landforms
Describe near shore environments, including coral reef
Know how fossils form and what environment they indicate
Understand spatial and temporal scales (rates)

What Makes a Visit to Puerto Rico Unique?

Sailing in the Caribbean Sea

Visiting Many Beaches

Touring Arecibo Observatory

Playing in the Rain!

Sampling New Food

Observing Biodiversity

Watching a Puerto Rican Baseball Game

Working with Puerto Rican Scientists / Students

Exploring Puerto Rican History

Accommodation and Transportation

Accommodation varies in Puerto Rico. Initially, it involved small apartments split between students. Most recently, students stayed at a hostel. This means shared facilities (bathroom, kitchen), including sleeping arrangements. It is important students understand they are a part of a small living community. All previous course trips have stayed in Rincon (Western Puerto Rico), which provides good access to many geologic sites (we generally avoid San Juan and Eastern Puerto Rico).

Each day is spent driving from accommodation to two or more sites. This is typically done with a large van (in Puerto Rico, the course is usually capped at 12 students so we can share a 15 passenger van). Driving in Puerto Rico can be slow and time consuming, so much of the itinerary is built around optimum driving times and weather conditions!