Fiji’s warm tropical climate causes weathering and some natural disasters to occur quite often. Basal salt weathering is what causes formations such as the one above, which are considered mushroom rocks. People believe that wind and sand usually cause rocks like this, but it is actually from salt breaking off little pieces off the bottom of rocks. 
(Weathering caused these rock formations at Lavena Walk in Taveuni, Fiji Islands. Most people believe that wind and sand usually cause rocks like this, but it is actually from salt breaking off little pieces off the bottom of rocks.)
Debris flows are caused from intensive rain that floods the cities. The flows consist of mud, boulder, and big rocks, which damage all of the homes and the drinking water. These can also be very dangerous for the people who live there. Many have died from these floods. These floods can also be caused from cyclones that happen around the Islands that they occur on.
(This picture is a flood in Nadi, Fiji from 4 days of rain. By the way people describe them, they seem to usually be debris flows like the one above.)
(Weathering caused these rock formations at Lavena Walk in Taveuni, Fiji Islands. Most people believe that wind and sand usually cause rocks like this, but it is actually from salt breaking off little pieces off the bottom of rocks.)Debris flows are caused from intensive rain that floods the cities. The flows consist of mud, boulder, and big rocks, which damage all of the homes and the drinking water. These can also be very dangerous for the people who live there. Many have died from these floods. These floods can also be caused from cyclones that happen around the Islands that they occur on.
(This picture is a flood in Nadi, Fiji from 4 days of rain. By the way people describe them, they seem to usually be debris flows like the one above.)Rock falls can happen when the land that the rock is on it too weak and there is detachment. When these happen, the people around are in great danger and roads, houses, and other important things can be destroyed. 
(This rock fall in Viti Levu, Fiji shut down the highway because of its intensity and size)
(This rock fall in Viti Levu, Fiji shut down the highway because of its intensity and size) The soil in Fiji is consider to be an oxisol which is also laterization. It is common in tropical regions where the temperatures are high and so is the precipitation. This soil is good for the people because it is good for agriculture and can be used as bricks and stuff to build houses. 
(This picure of the soil in Suva, Fiji shows the red dirt which is good for farming from the organic parent material. )
(This picure of the soil in Suva, Fiji shows the red dirt which is good for farming from the organic parent material. )Sources
Salt Weathering Picture
http://www.sunvacationsfiji.com/06offer_det.asp?off=114&img=1458
Flood Informaation
Flood Informaation
http://www.go-fiji.com/naturaldisasters.html
Flood Picture
Flood Picture
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4239857/Fiji-No-warning-against-travel-despite-record-floods.html
Rock Fall Picture
Rock Fall Picture
Hey Christina
ReplyDeleteYou had a great description of basal weather, but I was unsure on why debris flows and the rock falls happen. What makes the rock/soil weak? You also went from the word flows to floods which confused me. How do they interconnect? Do they hold the same meaning? I was also curios on how the mud, boulder, and big rocks in the debris flows get there. Were they already there or did they erode in a mass waste or earthquakes? Over all I like your blog and the clear description on the pictures.