ABSTRACT
This chapter presents drainage density maps of the Windward Island group and attempts to examine the influence of climatic, soil, lithological and time factors in accounting for variations in drainage density and relief development within the islands. It describes the nature and range of environments found within the Windward Islands. The islands lie in the trade wind belt and are characterised by a humid tropical climate. Heavy daily rainfall magnitude–frequency likewise varies considerably with altitude and aspect within the islands and strong positive linear relationships were found to exist between heavy daily rainfall parameters and annual rainfall. Simple relationships between drainage density and annual rainfall are not generally apparent in the younger volcanic areas. Great contrasts in drainage density are evident both between and within the different volcanic areas and these contrasts appear to be principally related to differences in lithology.
