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

• Biography of the Author
• Introduction
• 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 V