The Significance of Volcanic Activity in Costa Rica (Outline Draft #1)

This topic submitted by Nora Covy ( covyne@muohio.edu) at 4:57 PM on 3/29/08.

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With over 600 active and extinct volcanoes, Costa Rica is a hotspot of volcanic activity. When I visited the country before, I was fascinated by Arenal, a monumental giant slowly belching magma and smoke. I want to educate my fellow classmates about the basics of how volcanoes work and also teach them about some of the specific volcanoes in Costa Rica. While I was researching, I discovered some interesting information about how volcanoes affect their environment, often in ways that people don't normally perceive. I want to focus on the complex and significant roles that volcanoes play in changing the atmosphere, soil, and geography of the world. Most importantly, I hope to excite people about these rocky, living giants of our world.

I. Intro- Meet the Volcanoes of Costa Rica
A. The Pacific Ring Fire Circle
B. The celebrities
- Arenal
- Irazu
- Poas
- Turrialba

II. The Mechanics
A. Formation
- Tectonic plates
- Types
B. Eruption- There she blows!
- Magma
- Pressure
C. Over time- Building a Mountain

III. More on Arenal
A. Activity
- The big one in 1968
- Recent
B. The surrounding area
- Hot springs
- Environment

IV. Environmental Impact of Volcanoes
A. Short-term
- Devastation - crop-destruction, tsunamis, airplanes
2. Atmosphere
B. Long-term
- Soil
- Atmosphere
- Formation of islands- new habitats (leads to speciation)
- Mineral deposits used by humans
C. Very long-term
- Water vapor source- creating oceans and atmosphere
- Releasing heat

V. Volcanoes and Humans- A Tenuous Relationship
A. Risks
B. Advantages
- Mineral deposit uses
-Aesthetics
C. Natural Parks


Blong, R.J.(1984). Volcanic hazards: A source book on the effects of eruptions. Orlando: Academic Press. P. 424.

Camp, Vic. ÒHow Volcanoes Work.Ó http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Home.html. Last updated 03/31/2006. Sponsored by NASA.

Campbell N, Reece J. (2005). Biology- Seventh Edition. San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings. Pp. 1223-1224.

Kricher, John. (1997). A Neotropical Companion. Princeton University Press. P. 52,57.

Reagan M, Gill J, Malavassi E, Garcia M. (1987).ÒChanges in magma composition at Arenal volcano, Costa Rica, 1968Ð1985: Real-time monitoring of open-system differentiation.Ó Bulletin of Volcanology. 49 (1) Pp.415-434.

Rowland S, Mattox S. ÒEffect of Volcanoes.Ó http://volcano.und.edu/vwdocs/frequent_questions/top_101/Effects.html. Sponsored by North Dakota and Oregon Space Grant Consortia.

Topinka, Lyn. ÒCosta Rica Volcanoes and Volcanics.Ó
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/CostaRica/framework.html. Created on 02/17/2004. Sponsored by USGS.


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