Costa Rica is a success story of Central America. It
is a largely agricultural country bordering Caribbean Sea and North Pacific
Ocean and between Nicaragua and Panama, but it has expanded its economy to
include strong technology and tourism sectors. The living standard is
relatively high. The unique geography is even more remarkable.
Because Costa Rica is located near the equator, the
climate is tropical year round, which is fantastic for traveling. However, the country
has microclimates depending on the each region’s particular geography. The
season is divided two seasons: dry reason and rainy season. Dry season runs
from December to April and rainy season runs from May to November. In lowland
regions, the climate is hot and humid. In highland regions, the climate is
usually mild and cool.
Costa Rica has some of world’s most dynamic
volcanoes. There are over 100 volcanoes in Costa Rica including five of world
recognized volcanoes which erupt on a regular basis. There are occasional earthquakes and
hurricanes along Atlantic coast but frequent lowland floodings during rainy
season. 
stratovolcano: famous Arenal Volcano
Landscape of Costa Rica in 1000 years
There should be an increase in the coasts shoreline
in 1000 years from now. Rainy season has an impact on the low-lying coastal
regions. Natural hazards like floods, landslides, storms, earthquakes and
hurricanes make the coastal lowland areas especially vulnerable.
Evidence shows
events like subduction of Cocos plate has caused widespread damage and up to
1m of coseismic coastal uplift. Such deformation is recorded by emergent
marine terraces at the coast, and by uplifted alluvial fill within interior
valleys. The frequent occurrence of earthquakes is caused by the rapid convergence
rate of Cocos plate and Caribbean plate, which makes the land particularly
sensitive to the tectonic movements. Evidence of 3mm/yr sea rise also suggests the
potential increase of vulnerable coastal shorelines.
Increase in coastal shorelines
Landscape of Costa Rica in 10,000 years
We should be expecting new and active volcanoes
replacing where the old volcanoes are today in 10,000 years from now. Although
Costa Rica is a small country, the population of volcanoes is impressive. Many
active volcanoes in the country are caused by the NE subduction of the Pacific
tectonic plate under the Caribbean plate. Some of the most active volcanoes are Arenal,
Poas and Irazu volcanoes.
The current abrupt and violent volcanic eruptions
lead to the release of viscous magma, often results in the new cones. This
leads us to believe that within 10,000 years, Costa Rica’s landscape will have
new and active volcanoes replacing today’s old volcanoes.
caldera volcano
Landscape of Costa Rica in 1,000,000 years
In the next million years, one can be expecting the
global shift of Costa Rica due to the plate convergence.
Findings show that subduction zone is converging, which will result in the movement
of geographical location of Costa Rica. Base on the current trend, my guess is that the shift will be
toward the north, from the Central America to North America, eventually locates in
a coastal city in either America or Mexico.
Northward shift in a million years
Costa Rica is small but beautiful country that has a
dynamic landscape. In 1000 years, the coastal shorelines will increase; in 10,000
years, there would be many new and active volcanoes; and in a million years, it
is going to shift towards the north.
Image Sources:
http://geostudies2012.blogspot.com/2012/05/lovely-looking-landscapes.html
http://www.bestourism.com/items/di/1147?title=Costa-Rica&b=178
http://www.eoearth.org/article/National_Assessment_of_Shoreline_Change:_New_England_and_Mid-Atlantic_Coasts
