From 2003 to 2013, Enriquillo Lake, Dominican Republic, showed an increase in water level of 13 meters, with its level changing from 42 to 29 meters below sea level (BSL). In 2003, its maximum depth was approximately 24 meters; in 2013, it was 37.1 meters. The water surface coverage increased from 194.9 to 391 km2, flooding agricultural areas and leaving hundreds of people homeless. In addition, salinity increased from 105 ‰ to 23.4 ‰, a decrease of 4.47 times comparable to the volume change, which increased 4.48 times according to topographic and bathymetric maps. These changes began with Tropical Storm Odette and occurred progressively through 15 additional tropical cyclones (TC) or hurricanes that struck Lake Enriquillo between 2003 and 2011. Other climatic phenomena that have great influence on the Caribbean climate include the following: North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), Southern El Niño Oscillation (ENSO), the trade winds, North Atlantic Warm Pool, Multidecadal Oscillation, the anticyclone Caribbean Regulator Climate Centers (CRCCs), and the Bermuda-Azores High (Mendez-Tejeda et al. 2017). The sediment records deposited by the runoff from these phenomena were analyzed. These proxy records were used to determine the decadal fluctuations related to cyclonic systems and the resultant effect upon increasing the level of Lake Enriquillo (LE). The accumulation rate (TAS) was estimated by means of 210 (210Pb) lead radiochronology, elemental composition, and mineral and ignition loss. These results were correlated with the extreme climatic events that affected the Lake Enriquillo Basin (LEB) from 1900 and 2011.

Climate change might increase the frequency and severity of longer-lasting drought in the Caribbean, including in Hispaniola Island. Nevertheless, the hydroclimate changes projected by the state-of-the-art earth system models across the island remain unknown. Here, we assess 21st-century changes in hydroclimate over Hispaniola Island using precipitation, temperature, and surface soil moisture data from the 6th Phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The resulting analysis indicates, as with the previous 5th Phase of CMIP (CMIP5) models, that Hispaniola Island might see a significant drying through the 21st century. The aridity appears to be robust in most of the island following the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) 5–8.6, which assumes the “worst case” greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. We find a significant reduction in both annual mean precipitation and surface soil moisture (soil’s upper 10 cm), although it appears to be more pronounced for precipitation (up to 26% and 11% for precipitation and surface soil moisture, respectively). Even though we provide insights into future hydroclimate changes on Hispaniola Island, CMIP6’s intrinsic uncertainties and native horizontal resolution precludes us to better assess these changes at local scales. As such, we consider future dynamical downscaling efforts that might help us to better inform policy-makers and stakeholders in terms of drought risk.

The Bay of Samaná, formed by tectonism and sedimentation, is delimited to the north by the peninsula of the same name, to the south by the north slope of the Eastern Mountain Range and Los Haitises National Park, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west by the ancient Gran Estero, today the Lower Yuna. There follows a process of continuous degradation by the existing tectonic forces and the sediment contributions by the Yuna, Yabón, and La Yeguada rivers to the south as well as by the landslides of the mountainous area of the Samaná Peninsula, during periods of storms and hurricanes. The coastal area of Samaná Bay has altered by 2.17 km2 at the mouth of the Yuna River from 2003–2015. The high turbidity level has affected coral reefs and marine species.  The  mangroves  are  lost  faster  than  they  are  regenerated  by  the  coastline’s change. Variations in the elemental compositions of calcium and iron show the terrigenous influence on the dynamics of the bay during Extreme Weather Events (EWP) in the river basins that flow into it. Abrupt changes in the rainfall regime produced an equal change in the estuary sedimentation regime, according to the 210Pb. In the 2007–2016 period, a column of sediment that reached 38 cm and a 12 cm to 8.4 km column were deposited 4 km southeast of the municipality of Sánchez and east of the mouth of the Yuna River. The Sedimentary Accumulation Rate is very high, and the content of heavy metals exceeds the threshold values of Table SQuirt.

In the Port of Santa Bárbara de Samana, chemical residues, organic matter and heavy metals from domestic activities are deposited together in the waters and sediments. The analysis of the sediments by X-ray fluorescence of four extracted and sectioned cores showed that concentrations of trace metals such as Nickel, Chromium, Lead and Mercury were present at various depths, exceeding Limits of Toxicity (PEL) for marine sediments according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). Cadmium presented values above the toxicity threshold (TEL) in its minimum values and in its maximum values they exceeded the PEL value. While the Zinc and Copper values were low in all sections and lower than TEL. The analysis of the loss by ignition and the dating with lead 210 due to excess of the C4 core, showed a sudden change in the organic matter content and sedimentation rate. The superficial sediments show that unlike the deeper ones, the heavy metal content is lower, as well as that they do not represent a risk to the ecosystem by not exceeding toxicity levels.

In Dominican Republic exists cultive larges fields of various agricultural rubles. The largest extensions are rice, banana and cocoa; these are located in the Cibao Valley. In the eastern, southwestern, and a small area in the north of the country, sugar cane is cultivated. Heavy metals are found in many of these soils that could be affecting the quality of agricultural products or production. The levels of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, Hg and Pb, determined by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, in soils collected in two cultivation areas of Rice de La Vega and San Francisco de Macoris (SFM) have been compared with the NOAA-USEPA Canadian Agricultural Soil and Sediment Guide (CEQGs) (SQuiRTs Table ). The levels of Cr and Ni in La Vega exceeded the threshold effects levels (TEL), and the probable effects levels (PEL). Pb levels in the La Vega area were higher than in SFM. In general, these metals are found in the La Vega area in higher concentrations than in SFM, exceeding PEL and TEL.