Geomorphology and Volcanology of Costa Rica

Geomorphology and Volcanology of Costa Rica is the product of more than 30 years of research explaining the evolution of the quaternary relief of a geomorphologically diverse country. The book details the physical landscape of Costa Rica, with an emphasis on potential threats to the landscape, such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, and sea level rise.

The book answers questions on the climate changes associated with the intense volcanism that affects this country. Geomorphologists, geologists, geographers, and students who specialize in the Earth Sciences will benefit from knowing the geomorphology of Costa Rica, not only as a case study, but also for the lessons it offers on climate change and worldwide geological history.

• Includes graphs, maps, and photos that illustrate the most relevant phenomena
• Provides detailed description of the different regions of the country, each with its own tectonic and modeling characteristics
• Offers a detailed presentation of the geomorphological characteristics of Costa Rica

Geomorphologists, geologists, geographers, exploration geologists, volcanologists, seismologists

Chapter 1. Major Structural Units of Costa Rica

• 1. Northern Plains Extension of the Nicaragua Graben
• 2. Guanacaste and Central Quaternary Volcanic Ranges
• 3. Tempisque River Tectonic Depression
• 4. Tilaran’s Tertiary Mountain Range
• 5. Talamanca Mountain Range
• 6. The Pacific Littoral
• 7. The Caribbean Littoral

Chapter 2. Natural Shape Types in Costa Rica

• 1. Paleoglacier and Paleonival Forms
• 2. Multifaceted Shapes
• 3. Multiconvex Modeling
• 4. Piedmont Accumulation Shapes
• 5. Large Quaternary Volcano Shapes
• 6. Floodplain Shapes

Chapter 3. Regional Study of Large Morphological Units and the Coast

• 1. Volcanic Morphology
• 2. Barbilla Volcanic Sector
• 3. Moravia del Chirripó Caldera
• 4. Ending Tertiary Volcanism
• 5. Late Tertiary Volcanic Cone Evidence on Talamanca’s Southwest Slopes

Chapter 4. The Central Volcanic Mountain Range

• 1. Platanar–Porvenir Volcanic Complex
• 2. Poas Volcanic Structure
• 3. Congo Volcano
• 4. Barva Volcano
• 5. Molejon Collapsed Caldera
• 6. Cacho Negro Volcano
• 7. Santa Clara Caldera
• 8. Irazu Volcano
• 9. Las Nubes Volcano, Part of the Irazu Complex
• 10. Flores Volcanic Complex
• 11. Turrialba Volcano

Chapter 5. Central Valley Geomorphology

• 1. Eastern Central Valley
• 2. Reventazon River
• 3. Western Central Valley
• 4. Central Valley Morphogenesis

Chapter 6. Tilaran Mountain Range

• 1. Northeast Watershed or San Carlos Slope
• 2. Tilaran Southwest Watershed
• 3. Mount Turrubares Volcano Sector

Chapter 7. Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range

• 1. El Hacha Volcanic Ruins
• 2. Orosí Volcano
• 3. Cacao Volcano
• 4. Rincon de la Vieja Volcano
• 5. Miravalles Volcano and Guayabo Collapsed Caldera
• 6. Guayabo Caldera
• 7. Tenorio Volcano
• 8. Lake Arenal Sector

Chapter 8. Geomorphology of Guanacaste

• 1. Nicoya Peninsula
• 2. Tempisque River Tectonic Depression
• 3. The Ignimbrite Plateau

Chapter 9. Coastal Geomorphology of Costa Rica

• 1. The Pacific Coast
• 2. Pacific Littoral Morphology
• 3. Nicoya Peninsula Littoral
• 4. Nicoya Gulf Sector
• 5. Puntarenas Sea Arrow
• 6. The Central Pacific Littoral of Costa Rica
• 7. Baru River–Coronado Elevated Coast Sector
• 8. The Pacific Southeast Coast Sector of Costa Rica
• 9. Basalt and Sandstone Littoral Platform Morphology
• 10. Cyclic Origin Levels
• 11. The Caribbean Coast

Chapter 10. Cocos Island Geomorphology

• 1. An Eminently Volcanic Island

Chapter 11. Costa Rica Quaternary Chronology Proposal

• 1. Fluvial Levels
• 2. Tilaran Pacific Watershed Alluvial Fans
• 3. Caribbean Coast Paleocliffs
• 4. The Lower Quaternary (2,000,000 to 300,000 Years BP)
• 5. The Middle Quaternary
• 6. The Upper Quaternary