TALUS SLOPES OF THE JAMAICAN COCKPIT COUNTRY

Existing geospatial datasets of the Jamaican Cockpit Country such as topographic maps, satellite images, and digital terrain models do not reveal the true complexity of this tropical karst landscape.  Ironically, talus slopes, not cockpits, are the most common landform in the Cockpit Country of Trelawny Parish.  Talus slopes are possibly created and maintained by a variety of processes.  Tree tipping brings fresh rock to the surface and exposes it to surface slope processes.  There are three microclimates controlled by the geomorphology (xeric uplands, mesic slopes, hydric glades & cockpits) that may contribute to different tree tipping rates.  The rubbly nature of the Swanswick Formation allows rockfalls to occur from the myriad of short cliffs that occur within a talus slope.  A total of 6,003 pieces of talus were measured in 19 sample plots, 8 aspects, 4 landscape positions and 3 slope classes.  Each piece of talus was estimated as a spheroid for statistical analysis.  Summary statistics reveal the mean spheroid size is 0.0317 m³, minimum 0.0042 m³ & maximum 8.98 m³.  Much of the sampled talus is small.  There appears to be down slope sorting with talus size increasing with decreasing elevation.  Trade Winds are possibly contributing to more erosion & tree tipping on Northeast facing slopes.  Talus on summits is consistently small due to lack of supply mechanisms.