A Glimpse into Costa Rica's Future...

 

Costa Rica is one if the youngest sites of its kind (3 myr), with a unique geographic history and tropical landscape, a broad range of both geological and geographic activity, two coastlines (flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the East), and an incredible diversity of terrain, biota and weather. As a part of the Central American volcanic front (a border between volcanic and non-volcanic zones that often occurs in the trench side of an island arc), Costa Rica was formed through the subduction of the Cocos tectonic plate beneath the Caribbean plate at the Mid American Trench. This also created its Nicoya Peninsula at the Pacific Rim, unique in its position directly above the seismogenic zone of a subducting megathrust. The study of geographic patterns will help project how Costa Rica’s landscape might change over the next 1,000-1,000,000 years. 

COSTA RICA 1,000 YEARS FROM NOW… 

The rapid convergence rate (~9 cm/yr) of the
Cocos plate and the Caribbean plate is the cause
of Costa Rica’s frequently occurring earthquakes
(<M 7.0), as the land’s proximity to the subduction
 trench makes it particularly sensitive to vertical
tectonic movements, as this map of Costa Rica's
 plate tectonics illustrates.

Past plate tectonic activity provides evidence of a future abrupt coseismic (an area simultaneous earthquake occurrence) uplift followed by postseismic and interseismic subsidence. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1950 produced landslides, liquefaction and coseismic coastal uplift creating high inland tides. Emerging marine terraces (ancient shorelines) and uplifted alluvial fill (ancient river deposits) have been recorded. Additionally, evidence of sea level rise (~3mm/yr) suggests vulnerability to coastal low-lying coast hazards (e.g. hurricanes, landslides, storm surges, etc.).  Thus, one may expect to see an increase in the coasts shoreline, and the intrusion of deeper inland tides in 1,000 years.

 

COASTA RICA IN 10,000 YEARS FROM NOW…

Although a geologically young landform, Costa Rica’s dense volcanic population is in itself impressive, as the 100+ volcanic landscape is part of the Pacific Rim of Fire. These uplifted features range in shape from symmetrical cones rising to a single crater, sprawling mountains with collapsed calderas, stratovolcanoes like the Arenal Volcano on the left, and some lower shield-shaped outlines.

 

Violent eruptions created through deep crustal movement triggering think and viscous magma to release, often results in the production of new cones, some of the youngest being only 60 years old. Isotopic dating of surrounding and erupted material has lead geophysicists to calculate Holocene and Pleistocene uplift rates. Thus, leading us to expect that within 10,000 ears, Costa Rica’s 50,000 km² landscape will be laden with new, active, juvenile volcanos and possibly, additional craters, lakes or calderas where older volcanoes are today.




COSTA RICA 1,000,000 FROM NOW…

Offshore geophysical studies of Costa Rica’s westward coast, have identified sharp variations in uplift patterns coinciding with three distinct domains of subducting seafloor segments, each originating from distinct oceanic spreading ridges and exhibit contrasts in crustal thickness, surface roughness and heat flow. Since the cycle of subduction zone convergence is a never ending process, and the preceding findings indicating to be true in Costa Rica, in the next million years, can expect a global shift northeastward , eventually towards modern day Florida, of the area we today call Costa Rica, a vast increase in volcanic and seismic activity, as well as the addition of trenhes and ridges along its shoreline.

 
Sources:
Key Concepts in Geomorphology
Climate Risk and Adaptation Country Profile
CentralAmerica.com
Earth 100 Million Years From Now
USGS Volcanic Map if Costa Rica

Costa Rica's Climate

An arial view of Costa Rica's coast line.

Due to Costa Rica’s diverse terrain and proximity to the equator (8°-11°N), its climate is famous for a variety of microclimates (variations in weather and temperature).  According to the Köppen classification Costa Rica is of the Tropical Climate zone, specifically of the Tropical Rainforest Climte (Af) in the rainforests and high elevation regions, and of the Tropical wet and dry, or Savanna Climate (Aw), in the lower elevation regions of the country.
 

 

A map Costa Rica's Köppen Climate Classification Zone

The climate transitions between low land and mountain sites in terms of ambient air temperature (temperature on a thermometer, not including factors of humidity or wind), and transitional between the Caribbean and Pacific sides of Costa Rica in terms of incident solar radiation (radiation hitting a specific area) and seasonality of precipitation.

 

 

A map of Costa Rica's annual rainfall.



 Average temperature in Costa Rica ranges from 63°-86°F and has a relative humidity average of 68.2%. Because the climate is dominated by the Intertropical Convergence Zone [ITCZ] (a low-pressure area around the equator where the prevailing winds are calm), there are virtually no natural season. Costa Rica has a dry season (December-April) and a rainy season (May-November). The map below shows Costa Rica's annual rainfall.

  The two most important factors in Costa Rica’s weather are (1) the fairly even amount of solar radiation received, as the air temperature is a result of solar radiation and movements of the atmosphere at a given point; and (2) the northeasterly winds (named after the direction in which the wind is blowing), or trade winds known as “alisios.”

  

In this photo, we see the result of northeasterly winds and the production of rain along the Costa Rican Coastline.

The adiabatic process of interaction between the trade winds and Costa Rican topography leads to rainfall. As moisture-laden air comes off the Caribbean Sea and meets the coastline, the difference in temperature between the land and water triggers showers. As the wind moves in and reaches mountains and foothills, the air mass (where atmosphere has high pressure allowing air to ‘absorb’ the temperature and humidity characteristics of the surfaces) rises and cools, thus rainfall (cooler air holds less moisture than warm air).

 

 

Sources:

Costa Rica Info Travel

Impacts of Climate Change

Article: Geographic and Geologic Features of Costa Rica 

 

Hydrology, Mass Wasting and Weathering in Costa Rica

Costa Rica features three major drainage basins, encompassing 34 watersheds with numerous rivers and tributaries, one large lake for hydroelectric generation, and two major aquifers that store 90% of the municipal, industrial and agricultural water. Additionally, volcanic activity has formed highly permeable subterranean layers within the fragmented igneous lava. This phenomenon coupled with high rainfall has created the formation of aquifers in the central and northern part of Costa Rica’s Central Valley, where more than half of the population lives. These aquifers are called the Upper and Lower Colima and are separated by a layer that acts as a semi-permeable aquitard, which allows the descending and ascending vertical transfer of water, a valuable asset considering annual precipitation in Costa Rica can range anywhere from four to eighteen feet annually. Source

A map illustrating the vast and entangled river systems throughout Costa Rica.

A water flow grid of Costa Rica, illustrating the direction of flow throughout the country as a result of its complex geographic terrain.

 

Unfortunately, the Atlantic Ocean side of Costa Rica is challenged with storm water drainage problems where water tables are not very deep, and the propensity for flooding is higher. Coupled with heavy rainfall (often an effect of high wind hurricanes), and sizeable earthquake activity, Costa Rica’s landscape is often burdened with landslides. Landslide effects on alluvial fans include direct deposition of material on fan surfaces alone the coast; fissuring and displacement of fan materials; alterations to drainage basins such as devegetation, denudation, and changes in channel networks; and generation of large amounts of sediment that may be transported to fans by post-earthquake water flows and debris flows. Source

 

These photos illustrate the incredible damage that can result from the extreme impact a landslide in Costa Rica can have on the landscape.

 

Landslide from Costa Rica Earthquake 9-5-2012

A landslide from mass rainfall in Costa Rica 12-29-11

 

Below is a  photo of a steep cliff face wall, a zone of active slope failure, from the dome at Costa Rica’s Poás Volcano after a small eruption in January 2008. At the root of the cliff lies a terrace of debris from mass wasting falls.

 

Here, an Earth Scientist examines Early Holocene fluvial sediments, in Esterillos, Costa Rica, from deposits on the Atlantic side of the country, exhibiting great amounts of weathering due to the humid and tropical climate.



 

 

Sources:

http://archives.datapages.com/data/sepm/journals/v66-67/data/069/069001/0084.HTM

http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/bulletin/contents.cfm?issue=3212&display=complete

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_resources_management_in_Costa_Rica



Anuncie Uno: Costa Rica's Geographic Lanscape, Volcanos & Earthquakes




That is, "Post One," in Spanish: a little of the local Costa Rican lingo.

 

Panorama photo of Arenal, from Arenal Lake.

Topographic Map of Costa Rica's landscape.


Costa Rica is located at 10°N (of the eaquator), and 84°W (of the Prime Meridian), spanning 51,100 km², and features a 1,228 km coastline.
The Costa Rican coastal plain is separated by a spine of rugged mountain ranges. The Cordillera Central and the Cordillera de Talamanca separate the Caribbean and Pacific watersheds. In addition, there are three other major mountain ranges that make up the continental divide and form Costa Rica’s rich geographic and ecologic landscape. There are 14 major river systems throughout Costa Rica, draining into the Caribbean, the Pacific and Lake Nicaragua.

IT’S A PLANE! NO, IT’S A BIRD! NO, IT’S ARENAL!

Costa Rica's Arenal volcano at sunset.

Due to Costa Rica’s position along the subducting Coco Plate, just east of the Middle America Ocean Trench, atop the Caribbean
Plate, thrust fault earthquakes and volcanic activity are constant occurrences familiar to the locals.  There are about six active volcanoes and 61 dormant volcanoes casing the nation. One of Costa Rica’s major tourist attractions is the actively erupting Arenal Volcano. Arenal is a ~7,000 year old andesitic Stratovolcano with various lava domes and has been active since 1984. At an elevation of 1,670 km, it maintains a 140 meter crater and is a site-to-see for international travelers from all walks, as there are several resorts and hotels specifically positioned with Arenal in their guest’s line of sight.



However, do not be fooled by Arenal’s scenic convenience, as Costa Rica’s Irazú volcano is as equally, if not more, extraordinary. Although active, Irazú has not had a notable eruption since 1994. This complex Stratovolcano is positioned at an elevation of 3,432 km, and measures an area of 500 km². Its intense eruptions expose impressive mafic minerals including basalt and andesite, and can source from any of its remarkable five different craters (as seen from this NASA aerial view image). 

Stay tuned, because there is much more to come!


Sources:
Wikipedia: Geography of Costa Rica
Wikipedia: Arenal Volcano
Wikipedia: Irazu Volcano

VIDEO: Arenal Volcano Pyroclastic Eruption!!

VIDEO: Costa Rica- National Geographic & Lindblad Expeditions

Introduction

Hi there!

My name is Katie Blair. I am a Business Marketing major at the UC Denver Business School, and maintain a prior degree in Merchandise Marketing from a little school in Los Angeles, CA, called FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising). I was born and raised in Houston, TX, graduated high school in Billings, MT, lived for eighteen months in Manhattan (i.e. New York City), and spent the past five years in Los Angeles, before moving to Denver in January. I have traveled to many parts of Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as a few places in Europe. In December 2010, my family and I traveled to Costa Rica, specifically Jáco, a small beach town outside the capital, San José.  

We spent ten days engulfing ourselves in all that Costa Rica has to offer. We rode four wheelers through the mountains, took boats through the luscious jungle rivers, zip-lined for miles through the jungle canopy (see image below), jet-skied along the crystal clear coast line, fished the Pacific Ocean, and much much more. My experience in Costa Rica was incredible! Thus, why I have chosen this location to take you on a geographic tour, in hopes that maybe you can get just a glance at all that this beautiful land has to offer! As I continue to update and blog new posts about the rich geographic landscape, I will also include some interesting, fun and random facts about the enchanting paradise that is that of Costa Rica!

FACT #1: In 2009, the NEF (New Economic Foundation) sited Costa Rica as the “greenest” country in the world; and, in 2011, were awarded by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) for their development and environmental sustainability efforts. Source

My exciting 'zip-trip' through the canopy of the Costa Rican Jungle.