American+Samoa

// The American Samoa //

by: Cindy Kuo & James Wall Yellow Block  Introduction:

The American Samoa is 2,300 miles SSW from the coast of Hawaii (one of the United States), and about 3,301 miles NNE from the coast of New Zealand. 1 The American Samoa is located in the region of the world known as Oceania, which is composed of several islands in the South Pacific. 1 The American Samoa's geographic coordinates are: 14_20° S, 170_00° W. 1
 * Where is it? **

The territory of the American Samoa is located mostly on the island of Tutuila, which is about the size of the district of Washington, D.C. (roughly 68.2 square miles), is one of the two only National Parks (the other being the U.S. Virgin Islands) that is not within the actual country of the United States. The American Samoa also contains many animal species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, such as the tiny forest jewels, because of it's isolation. ** ** Also, the American Samoan islands is part of the Samoan volcanic island arc
 * What is unique about it, or what caused it to be designated a national treasure?

What are the highlighted features we will want to learn about/visit? -The American Samoa is part of the five-island Samoan volcanic island arc. All five of these islands are either active or dormant volcanoes. ** 4


 * - There are also coral atolls off the coasts of the islands. These form when a volcanic island is surrounded by a fringing coral reef, which eventually grows into a barrier reef as the island gradually sinks into the ocean. This process leaves behind a ring of coral surrounding a lagoon, which is called a coral atoll. [[image:https://arcims.redcross.org/website/maps/images/Samoa/tutuila_topo.jpg width="360" height="199" align="right" caption="Basic Topographic Map of Tutuila - B"]] 4  **

- The American Samoa's biosphere has several organisms unique to the Samoan archipelago, and some only to the island of Tutuila.

In the center of the island of Tutuila lies the main volcano of the American Samoa, the basaltic-to-andesitic shield volcano, Pago​. 7  Pago is surrounded by a 9-km wide caldera. ​ 7 The majority of the rest of the island of Tutuila is very mountainous. 7  The highest peak on Tutuila is on Lata Mountain (Ta'u), at approximately 3,169 ft.​ 8 The islands of the American Samoa are the result of tectonic plates moving over a hotspot under the south Pacific Plate.** 3 ** The island is the tip of the volcano that formed 1.5 million years ago.3 The American Samoa's bedrock is composed of cooled lava (basaltic igneous rock) that was released from the shield, that it created an island. ** 3 **  Tutuila Island was the first island to be created and is just the tip of the volcano formed above the hotspot (a hot upwelling plume that is composed of molten lava) under the Southern Pacific Plate. ** 3 ** As the Pacific Plate gradually shifts from east to west, the islands' volcanoes become inactive because the hot spot is not longer below the island. ** 3 ** Because the hotspot is stationary and the plate is moving above it, another volcano island arc starts to form when the plate moves again, creating another volcano in the American Samoa.<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> ** 3 ** The American Samoa contains 5 islands that originated from tectonic plates and volcanic activity.<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> ** 3 ** Some weathering mechanisms that have effected the the shape of the landscapes are the harsh waves and the waters around the island.<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> ** 4 ** The waves crashing against the sides of the island erodes away sediments attached to the island.<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> ** 4 ** There are also coral atolls surrounding the island of the American Samoa. Coral atolls form in shallow, warm (about 24°C), and clear sunlit water when there is a fringing coral reef forming around a volcanic island.<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> ** 4 ** As the warmer ocean floor moves away from the hot spot beneath the surface, the island becomes denser and sinks.<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"> ** 4 ** When the island starts to sink, the fringing coral reefs starts to form into a barrier reef and continues to form into an atoll<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 15px;">.<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"> ** 4 ** The coasts are mainly scenic beaches primarily composed of fine-grained, crumbly fragments of sediments, mostly shells 6. These most likely formed from deposits of sediment made by waves carrying in pieces of the coral reefs and atolls just off the shore. There are also some beaches that have sand deposits formed from basaltic rocks circa Holocene epoch. 6 These sections formed near the edge of lava fields where magma intrusions eventually cooled to form the basaltic igneous rock, which eventually was eroded into the sand of today. 6
 * Are there specific trails that people take? What is the topography like? (Use mapping knowledge) **
 * Description of and history of the bedrock/geologic setting. **


 * <span style="color: #19bff5; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal;">Climate & Weather: **

The climate is tropical maritime weather because of southeast trade winds. 4 Annual rainfall averages approximately 200 inches. 1 Rainy season is November to April; Dry season is May to October; The temperature doesn't change much annually. 1 Has the climate of the area had anything to do with the development of the features? The American Samoa has typhoons throughout December until March. The harsh waves help influence the shape of the coastline. 1 Is the climate changing? Is there evidence of this in the park features? Make sure to address what we can expect in regards to the length of day and solar intensity in regard to seasons. **
 * Describe what the climate is like in this park and why.


 * <span style="color: #19bff5; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal;">Biomes: **

** What type of biome is the park in? ** ** What kind of vegetation and animal life will you see? <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"> There are 3 types of bats on the American Samoa, the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">//<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Pteropus samoensis // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">, the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">//<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Pteropus Tonganus // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"> (both of which are fruit bats), and the <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">//<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Emballonura Semicaudata // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"> (which is an insect-eatin <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">g bat). ** <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">** 2 ** These bats are the only native mammals of the American Samoa.<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">** 2 ** There are also Flying Foxes.<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">** 2 ** The diversity of native mammals is limited because of the isolation of the American Samoa.<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">** 2 ** In the water, there are coral atolls that contain some fish that may be found, including Surgeonfish (locally known as <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">//<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">pone // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">), Unicornfish (locally known as <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">//<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">ume // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">), Groupers (locally known as <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">//<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">gatala // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">) and Snappers (locally known as <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">//<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">mu // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">).<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">** 4 ** There are also Humpback Whales and Loggerhead, Green, and Hawkbill sea turtles that nest at the American Samoa when migrating.<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">** 4 ** In the skies of the American Samoa, there may be (the only) Samoan parrot (Segavao/Blue Crowned Lory), the lesser (Fiji) Shrikebill (Sega o le vau), the Spotless Crake, and the Ground Dove (Tuaimeo).<span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">** 4 ** There are a total of 37 native birds (84% are endemic or subspecies). There are also approximately 6 species of fruit-eating pigeons, like the <span style="font-family: Times,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">//<span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Didunculus strigirostris. // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"> In addition to the birds, bats, and fish on and around the island, there are reptiles, like the pacific snake, which feed on bird eggs and lizards, geckos, skinks, and the Pacific keel-scaled boa. Plants within the American Samoa include different types of Ferns, Dicots, and Monocots. 5
 * The islands of the American Samoa are a tropical rain forest biome. ** 4

<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif;">** How is this life well adapted for this climate? ** The biosphere of the American Samoa is well adapted to its climate. The animals' bodies are adapted to the constant heat of Tutuila, with light skin/bodies. All of the plants on the island are all subcategories of the mother categories, Ferns, Dicots, and Monocots, which are all adaptable to the heat, humidity, and the overwhelming amount of precipitation found in the tropical rain forest biomes.


 * <span style="color: #19bff5; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px;">Human Impact: **

**Is the park, its inhabitants, or features in danger from human impact? <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: super;">The park's animals are in danger because of annual hunting that takes away more animals than can be afforded to be lost. Also, the new species of animals being introduced to the community already existing on the American Samoa are threatening the populations because of predators and killing plants, also. ** <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: super;">5 There has been no real major human impact on the American Samoa, except for perhaps the harbor in it's capital, Pago Pago, where ships are very active, which impacts the local spheres around it too.

<span style="color: #33ff48; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Sources:


 * 1) The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). "CIA - The World Factbook." <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 32px;">// Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency // . The Central Intelligent Agency (CIA). Web. 06 June 2010. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/aq.html>.
 * 2) <span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">"Natural History Guide To American Samoa." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">// UW Departments Web Server // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">. Web. 06 June 2010. <http://depts.washington.edu/tc596jan/samoa/playground/invaders.php?r=n>.
 * 3) <span style="color: #808080; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">"Samoa Hotspot." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">// Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 32px;">. Web. 06 June 2010. <[]>.
 * 4) <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Tarbuck, Edward J., and Frederick K. Lutgens. <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">// Earth Science // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009. Print.
 * 5) <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Natural History Guide To American Samoa." <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">// UW Departments Web Server // <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. Web. 09 June 2010. <[]>.
 * 6) Geologic Resources Division. // National Park of American Samoa Geologic Resource Evaluation Report // . Rep. no. 2008/025. Denver, Colorado: Geologic Resources Division, 2008. Print. (also at <[]>)
 * 7) "Global Volcanism Program | Tutuila | Summary." // Smithsonian Institution - Global Volcanism Program: Worldwide Holocene Volcano and Eruption Information // . Web. 10 June 2010. <[]>.
 * 8) "Samoan Islands." // Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia // . Web. 10 June 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoan_Islands#Highest_points>.
 * Images: **

A. "A List of All National Parks in the USA | Jazz Hostels Blog." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">// Jazz Hostels in New York City, Miami, Montreal - South Beach and New York Hostels //. Web. 10 June 2010. <http://www.jazzhostels.com/blog/210-ultimate-usa-national-parks-part-1/>.

B. The American Red Cross. "Map and Graphic Links." <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">// Red Cross Map Catalog Home Page //. The American Red Cross, 2010. Web. 09 June 2010. <[]>.

C. "American Samoa Pictures - Pago Pago Harbour, Tutuila." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">// Samoa Pictures - Travel Guide and Photography //. Web. 10 June 2010. <http://www.samoa.pictures-pacific.com/american-samoa/pago-harbour.html>.

D. Stender, Keoki. "Bigeye Emperor." <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">// Hawaii Marine Life //. 16 May 2006. Web. 08 June 2010. [].

E. "Tim's Tropicals Photo Forum." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,fantasy; font-size: 16px;">// Tropical Fish Forum. Net - Discussion Forum //. Web. 08 June 2010. < <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">[]>

F. "Travel Tips - American Samoa." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">// SearchBox //. Web. 10 June 2010. <http://www.southtravels.com/pacific/americansamoa/traveltips.html>.