Panamanian Isthmus

Jacob Gottlieb

Professor Linky

12/3/2014

Oceanography

The Isthmus of Panama

The geography of Panama was greatly affected due to the seduction of tectonic plates millions of years ago, effecting the way humans live, the habitats of the animals, and the waterways that once connected the Pacific to the Atlantic.

This geographic change all started with two plates slowly drifting towards each other a few centimeters per year. What was to happen next is what usually happens when tectonic plates collide, for the most part creating underwater volcanoes. These Volcanoes spew up rubble and rocky sediment that when there is enough of it, end up creating small little islands, similar to how Hawaii was created years ago. One at a time more islands started popping up filling in the gaps between the other islands creating a dense block of land. The creation of this Isthmus that we are familiar with now blocked the circulation of water from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean currents from the Caribbean were forced northward warming the eastern coast of North America and warming the climate of Europe. With the lack of the oceans ability to mingle with one another, another major characteristic trait of the pacific changed and that is the fact the Pacific Ocean had become saltier. With the change of the currents and the climate had a major impact on the Artic creating the icy geography we are used to. The moisture associated with the warm currents flowing northward gave way to accumulation of water creating snow. The Panamanian Isthmus is given credit for the beginning of the ice age based on some theories.

Besides the climate change due to the occurrence of the land bridge being created, the mobility for wildlife was drastically changed. Animals now were able to migrate north such as the armadillo and porcupine and the latter, such as bears and wolves being able to migrate south. This was a major deal for the fact that the food chain had been interrupted....