Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lachniet, M. S. Articles by Seltzer, G. O. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Late Quaternary glaciation of Costa Rica

¹ Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA

The highest peaks of Costa Rica (9°15'– 9°36'N) were glaciated during the late Quaternary, attesting to a significantly cooler climate in Central America than today. During the last local glacial maximum (LLGM), an ice cap 35 km² in extent covered the highest peaks of the Cordillera de Talamanca around Cerro Chirripó, and around Cerros de la Muerte and Kamuk, 5 and 2 km² of ice existed, respectively. In Chirripó National Park, three moraine groups define three glacial stages. The Talamanca Stage extends to 3040 m and represents the last local glacial maximum. Chirripó Stage moraines reach elevations of 3300 m, and Talari Stage moraines formed at 3300 and 3420 m. Former equilibrium- line altitudes (ELAs) were 3500 m, 3600 m, and 3620 m, respectively. Cirque-floor elevations of 3260 m at Cerro Kamuk suggest a lower (pre-?)LLGM ELA. Radiosonde data from San José place the modern 0 °C isotherm at 5000 m, which suggests a late Quaternary ELA depression of 1500 m, which is consistent with a temperature reduction at Chirripó of 8–9 °C during the LLGM. Some of this cooling may be attributable to a steeper lapse rate associated with a drier atmosphere, possibly due to a more restricted position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, decreased yearly convection, or more frequent incursion of polar air masses.

Key Words: Costa Rica • equilibrium-line altitude • glaciation • Last Glacial Maximum • paleoclimate • Quaternary

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. B. Fisher and P. C. Ryan THE SMECTITE-TO-DISORDERED KAOLINITE TRANSITION IN A TROPICAL SOIL CHRONOSEQUENCE, PACIFIC COAST, COSTA RICA Clays and Clay Minerals, October 1, 2006; 54(5): 571 - 586. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Reagan, E. Duarte, G. J. Soto, and E. Fernandez The eruptive history of Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica, and potential hazards from future eruptions Geological Society of America Special Papers, January 1, 2006; 412(0): 235 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]